A case for Sangma as President

The saying that ‘the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry’ has been true in the wheeling and dealing of the Congress.

Whether this will also be true in the presidential poll, where it has nominated Pranab Mukherjee, will be clear in a month. Though Mukherjee’s nomination is seen as a reward to his loyalty to the Congress, it does more harm than good to the nation, as he represents a party that has been wallowing in a political quagmire and is in its last gasp.

Seen in this context, there is immense sense in Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav’s declaration — notwithstanding the latter’s U-turn — of rejecting Mukherjee, and insisting on the United Progressive Alliance choosing Somnath Chatterjee, APJ Abdul Kalam, or Manmohan Singh, knowing well that the first two names are anathema to the Congress. Though this stumped Sonia Gandhi and her coterie, her announcement of Mukherjee as the UPA nominee was self-serving and devoid of national perspective.

For, with scams, scandals, policy paralysis, and the collapse of the economy, government machinery, and Parliament, the UPA has lost its legitimacy to stay in power. Given this and the message strongly conveyed by the SP and TMC leaders that Manmohan Singh is already a spent force whom the nation cannot afford to have as prime minister any longer, the right thing for Singh to do is choose the presidential way or resign. 

When Dr Rajendra Prasad was unanimously elected as the first President, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel said in a short speech, ‘This is a red letter day in India’s history, and we have no manner of doubt that under your wise judgment, your unruffled and cool temperament and your method of dealing with men and things, the honour and prestige of the country will rise as days go by and under your distinguished leadership, the country will attain the status it deserves among the nations of the world.’

For bringing down this exalted office of the President as envisaged by the framers of the Constitution to its nadir, the Congress, in its later avatar, used the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmeds, Giani Zail Singhs, and Pratibha Patils.

As Patil has already turned the office of the President into Augean stables, it is only someone like a vibrant and buoyant PA Sangma who can restore its respectability and aura. Seen from this perspective, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s initiative to propose Sangma as the next President, which was immediately endorsed by Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, was farsighted. Though between Kalam and Sangma the BJP was inclined to back Kalam, his formal announcement on June 18 that he is not contesting makes Sangma’s case strong.

Since politically important gestures, if properly made, can do a lot to strengthen democracy, and as Presidents have been elected from virtually all communities and regions except from the tribal, Christian, and the Northeast regions, electing Sangma will be a major historic event as he will be the first tribal to occupy the President’s office. As Sangma is also a Christian — a tribal Christian as he would have it — a community from which no one has been elected President, his candidature assumes added importance in strengthening India’s pluralism and diversity.

As Lok Sabha speaker, Sangma was a great success. As he is also a seasoned politician known for his erudition, independence, poise and uprightness and is not saddled by age like Mukherjee, he can energise the youth across the country and work for bringing the Northeast to the mainstream. That a communal party like the BJP is backing Sangma should not be a cause for the parties that are not with the BJP for not supporting Sangma. All said, when elected, he will be the head of the nation and would not represent any party.

So, Jayalalithaa has her task cut out to ensure Sangma’s victory, which should not be difficult as he will be seeking ‘conscience votes’ and party whips have no meaning in a secret ballot.