The former finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, has finally won his ticket to Rashtrapati Bhavan after comfortably defeating his opponent Purno Sangma by two-thirds of total votes.
The former finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, has finally won his ticket to Rashtrapati Bhavan after comfortably defeating his opponent Purno Sangma by two-thirds of total votes. Given his vast political experience and encyclopaedic memory, Mukherjee is respected even by his opponents. However, will he be able to take impartial decisions or succumb to political pressures? DNA finds out...
Pranab will enhance India’s stature on global platform
Electing Pranab Mukherjee as the president of India is a very positive move and we hope that he will play an active role within the ambit of presidential rules. As the president, he will not be involved in party politics but he can always act as a moderator. In my opinion, he will be a very good president. He has a better standing and understanding as well as is very well connected. He has represented India in so many forums across the world. He will definitely enhance India’s stature on the global platform. As a senior politician who has handled different portfolios as a minister, he is a perfect choice for president post.
Mukesh Malhotra, former president, MCCIA
We have called for a nationwide agitation
Pranab Mukherjee’s name is listed among the tainted ministers in India and as he is allegedly involved in scams, how is he apt for the president’s role? The investigation team should have probed his role in various scams and till he didn’t get a clean chit, he shouldn’t have been nominated by Congress for the presidential election. Now that he has become the president, he will definitely become immune to any kind of investigation. How can a tainted minister get elected as the supreme commander of all the three defence forces of the country? India Against Corruption (IAC) objects to Mukherjee’s win and we have called for a nationwide agitation. He is facing some serious charges of corruption.
Deepak Bharadia, Coordinator, India Against Corruption
Mukherjee will never trespass legislation
I have no doubt that our next president Pranab Mukherjee is a man of integrity and very efficient in his work. He will stick to the rule book. He will never trespass any legislation and be very impartial in his decisions. He has already resigned from the membership of Congress party. As the president of the country, Mukherjee will be respected, valued and acknowledged by all political parties.
Bhai Vaidya, Socialist leader
Pranab is accepted by most political parties
I believe that there are many competent and wise people in India who are not into active politics but are valuably contributing and making a difference in important fields like education, technology and environment among others. Unfortunately, in our country, we have the tendency to seek politicians for leadership in areas that are not their strong points. For example, sports associations in the country are largely dominated by politicians. They are not necessarily the only people who have the astuteness to run these associations.
However in the case of Pranab Mukherjee, I feel he is a good choice for presidentship. He has a vast experience in running ministries over the years. Compared to his counterparts, he projects objectivity and is widely accepted by most political parties. I believe he has the interest, intellect and capability of being a strong president. I am also convinced that he would not let his erstwhile political affiliation to Congress party hamper his effectiveness.
Anu Wakhlu, MD, Facilitator, coach, Pragati Leadership Institute
No president has brought reforms so far
Pranab Mukherjee will have to play a role within the framework of the constitution. Since he has just been elected, he needs to prove that he is worthy of becoming the president of the country. I don’t expect for any extraordinary changes to happen during his tenure. No president till now has or can play any active role in bringing reforms.
PB Sawant, former justice, Supreme Court of India
Pranab will be impartial
Pranab Mukherjee will make a good president due to his strong political background. He will be impartial in his decisions and not favour any political party. As the head of defence forces, he will not make much of a difference because he will just be a titular head.
SCN Jatar, Maj Gen (Retd)
He has left country’s economy in a shambles
Frankly speaking, the UPA is virtually left with no politician with a clean image in its government that it could nominate for the top job. Our new president, therefore, is a huge compromise but the best the government had. Pranab Mukherjee is alleged to have been involved in a number of scams when he held key positions in the government which should have been investigated before his nomination. More recently, as the finance minister he has left the country’s economy in a shambles with high inflation, an eroded rupee, poor investment climate and paralysed the economic policy. How fair, active, gutsy and impartial he will be, only time will tell. Quite certainly he is expected to be far better than his predecessor, if that is any consolation.
Girish Deshpande, prez, Professionals Party of India
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