Tag: Presidential elections

  • Presidential polls 2022: When outcome is often certain and messaging important

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Outcomes of presidential polls have been mostly certain even before the first vote was cast and rival political parties have often used the contest to send out a larger message centred around their politics through their choices.

    In 2012, the BJP backed P A Sangma against the UPA’s Pranab Mukherjee in the hope to earn some brownie points for supporting a tribal candidate from the North East while K R Narayanan and A P J Abdul Kalam were such a powerful mix of symbolism and substance in 1997 and 2002 respectively that even the main opposition party ended up backing them.

    Narayanan, a former diplomat who came from the Scheduled Caste, was a candidate of the United Front government and the Congress, and had received support from the opposition BJP as well.

    And when the saffron party picked Kalam, a much admired and respected scientist, when it was in power, the Congress supported him.

    With its choice of Droupadi Murmu, a tribal leader from a humble background, the BJP seems to have succeeded in sending a wider message about its representative politics after naming a Dalit in 2017, incumbent President Ram Nath Kovind, as she is all but certain to be India’s first ST president.

    Have the Congress and other strident BJP rivals like the Trinamool Congress and the Left been able to make an important point with their choice of former Union minister Yashwant Sinha? Political experts believe the Congress decision to back Sinha, first a choice of the TMC, does signal its willingness to accommodate regional parties as the opposition gears up for the 2024 general election even though the candidate, a former BJP leader, himself may not inspire much enthusiasm and confidence.

    The opposition’s decision to settle on a former BJP leader who rebelled against its current leadership seems to convey the message that all those against the present government should come together, said Manindra Nath Thakur, associate professor at the Centre for Political Studies of JNU.

    On symbolism, however, the opposition has lost out as even anti-BJP voices are wondering what is big deal about its candidate, he said, describing Sinha (84) as an “exhausted politician” who always lacked any mass appeal.

    Though he does enjoy a clean image, Thakur added.

    That Sinha is a bureaucrat-turned-politician from an upper caste while Murmu is a tribal person from one of the most backward regions of Odisha has only accentuated the contrast, prompting regional parties such as the BJD and the YSR Congress to back her while an opposition member like Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which associates itself with the tribal cause, is also in a bind.

    Mayawati’s BSP has announced support to Murmu as well.

    Thakur said the opposition could have experimented with a Dalit or Muslim candidate at a time when the BJP is going all out with its politics of representation to convey that its ideology of Hindutva and nationalism has a space for the most disadvantaged sections of society.

    Noting that its critics have often tried to project the RSS-BJP as a proponent of Brahminical ideology which is “anti-Dalit, anti-tribal and anti-Muslim”, the ruling party has assiduously worked to break this campaign, he said.

    Its projection of Kovind helped silence most Dalit voices working against the BJP, and Murmu’s candidature will achieve a similar feat among tribals, Thakur said, adding the party had already been getting support from a section of tribals.

    This support will be further consolidated, he added.

    When the BJP-led NDA picked Kovind in 2017, the Congress-led opposition zeroed in on Meira Kumar, also a Dalit, so as to be not accused of opposing a candidate from the most disadvantaged section of society.

    In 2007, the UPA choice of Pratibha Patil had split the BJP-led NDA as Shiv Sena, then an ally of the saffron party, chose to back her as she was from Maharashtra instead of its own alliance candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

    She went on to become India’s first woman President.

    The UPA’s choice of Mukherjee, a veteran politician who drew respect from rival parties too, had caused a similar flutter in the NDA ranks as the likes of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) besides Shiv Sena broke ranks with the BJP to back him.

    With the numbers mostly on their side, the ruling alliance at the Centre has always had the advantage in outwitting the opposition through its choice.

    All the opposition can do is to make the most of the losing battle to score a point about its ideological messaging.

    This is what it sought to do in 1982 when it named former Supreme Court judge H R Khanna, whose solitary voice of dissent in favour of civil liberties shone through when the court sided with the government’s decision on suspending them in the Emergency, as its candidate against the ruling Congress’ Zail Singh.

    It was to emphasise its staunch ideological opposition to the BJP that made the Left parties field Lakshmi Sahgal, a member of Subhas Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Fauj, against Kalam in 2002 even though the Congress supported him, a BJP choice.

    In 1992, opposition parties backed George Gilbert Swell, a seasoned parliamentarian and tribal leader who played an important role in the movement for statehood of Meghalaya, against the Congress’ Shankar Dayal Sharma, who won easily.

    Though presidential contest generally generates not much buzz even as the contestants do so sometime due to their personal stature and background, the 1969 poll was consequential like no other past election, and no future battle for India’s top constitutional post has matched its resonance as well so far.

    The bubbling tension between the Congress establishment, including its president S Nijalingappa, and then prime minister Indira Gandhi erupted as she disapproved of her party’s choice Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy and instead showed preference for V V Giri, who contested as an independent.

    Giri won, Gandhi was expelled from the party by Nijalingappa only for her to walk away with a large number of party members and a majority of MPs as well.

    With the BJP making out efforts to secure a maximum vote for Murmu, Sinha has projected the upcoming poll as a contest between identity and ideology and asserted that it will have a defining impact on the country’s politics.

    Political watchers will be keenly watching the outcome, especially the support he can rally around, for the evidence of his claims.

  • Presidential polls: Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha reaches out to PM Narendra Modi for support

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Opposition candidate for the presidential election Yashwant Sinha reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday, seeking their support for the July 18 polls.

    Sinha also dialled Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and reminded him of the commitment that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) had made when he was named as the combined opposition candidate for the presidential polls. “We have begun our campaign in earnest and will reach out to everyone to seek their support in the election,” sources in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said.

    They said Sinha made calls to the offices of Modi and Singh and left a message seeking support for his candidature. The former Union minister also reached out to his mentor and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani.

    Sinha is scheduled to file his nomination papers on Monday afternoon in the presence of top opposition leaders.

    The JMM and the Janata Dal (Secular), led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, are being seen as supportive of the NDA’s presidential candidate, Droupadi Murmu, who filed her nomination papers on Friday.

    Sinha, who was expected to launch his campaign for the presidential election from his home state Jharkhand on Friday, was forced to delay it when it emerged that Soren is leaning in favour of Murmu, a fellow Santhal community member.

    Meanwhile, Sinha wrote a letter to all the opposition leaders who have chosen him as their common candidate for the July 18 polls. “I assure you — and the people of India — that, if elected, I shall conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Indian Constitution,” Sinha said.

    He said he plans to launch his campaign after filing his nomination papers on Monday by visiting as many state capitals as possible. “I hope to meet you as well as the MPs and MLAs belonging to your party to seek your support and guidance,” Sinha wrote in the letter.

  • NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu meets PM Modi 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday soon after arriving in the national capital.

    Modi said her candidature for the post of President has been appreciated across India by all sections of society.

    She is expected to file her nomination papers on Friday, with Modi tipped to be the first proposer.

    A host of senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers and functionaries from other parties supporting her bid, are also set to be among the proposers.

    In a tweet, Modi said, “Met Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her Presidential nomination has been appreciated across India by all sections of society. Her understanding of grassroots problems and vision for India’s development is outstanding.”

    She will also meet a host of senior leaders and then embark on a nationwide campaign, urging different political parties to support her bid.

    If elected, a strong possibility given that Murmu (64) already has the support of a majority in the electoral college, she will be the first tribal person to be the President of India.

    The Opposition has fielded former Union minister Yashwant Sinha as its joint candidate for the post.

  • I am confident Droupadi Murmu will be a great President: PM Narendra Modi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Soon after Droupadi Murmu was named as the BJP-led NDA’s presidential candidate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the former Jharkhand governor has devoted her life to serving society and expressed confidence that she will be a “great President”.

    Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation.
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2022
    The BJP parliamentary board on Tuesday named Murmu, a tribal leader of the party from Odisha, as the ruling NDA’s candidate for the presidential election. “Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised,” Modi said on Twitter.

    She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure, he said. “I am confident she will be a great President of our nation,” Modi said.

    The prime minister said that millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Droupadi Murmu. “Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country,” Modi said.

  • Farooq Abdullah withdraws name as possible joint opposition candidate for President’s post

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Three-time former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, whose name was proposed as a possible joint candidate for the office of president on Friday withdrew his name from the race saying he has a lot more active politics ahead and is looking forward to making a positive contribution in service of J&K and country.

    In a statement, Abdullah, who is Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, said “I am honoured to have had my name proposed as a possible joint opposition candidate for the office of President of India by Mamata Banerjee”.

    He said after Mamata proposed his name, he received a number of calls from opposition leaders offering their support for his candidature.

    “I have taken a few days to discuss this unexpected development with my family and senior colleagues. I am deeply touched by the support that I’ve received & honoured to have been considered for the highest office in the country,” Abdullah said.

    He said he believes J&K is passing through a critical juncture and his efforts are required to help navigate these uncertain times.

    “I have a lot more active politics ahead of me and look forward to making a positive contribution in the service of J&K and the country. Therefore I would like to respectfully withdraw my name from consideration and I look forward to supporting the joint opposition consensus candidate,” said Abdullah.

    He said he was grateful to Mamata for proposing his name.

    “I’m also grateful to all the senior leaders who offered me their support,” added NC president.

    Abdullah is expected to play a key role in the party’s electoral politics in J&K.

    He will lead the party’s campaign in the first-ever Assembly polls of J&K Union Territory, which may be held by the end of this year.

  • President polls: Pawar urged Opposition leaders to discuss some other names during next meeting, says NCP

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The NCP on Wednesday said that even as the leaders of 17 opposition parties urged party chief Sharad Pawar to be the joint opposition candidate for the presidential election, he once again declined the offer and requested the parties to propose some other names during the meeting to be held next week in Delhi.

    The NCP, which is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, also thanked the 17 opposition parties for suggesting Pawar’s name for the presidential poll.

    “NCP thanks all the 17 opposition parties for unanimously recommending the name of NCP president Sharad Pawar as the presidential candidate of the united opposition. But Pawar saheb has declined to be the candidate for the same. The next meeting to discuss the more names will be held in Delhi on June 21,” NCP’s chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said in a statement.

    Leaders of 17 opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, NCP, DMK, RJD and the Left parties on Wednesday attended the over two-hour-long meeting called by the Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to build consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the BJP-led NDA in the presidential election.

    The leaders of several opposition parties urged Pawar to be the joint opposition candidate for the election, but the veteran leader once again declined the offer.

    “All the opposition parties feel that the candidature of Pawar is most suited for the president’s post owing to his long political experience and his unshakable faith in Indian democracy.

    The leaders feel that Pawar’s name will find favour with many other political parties who are currently with the BJP,” Tapase said.

    “However, Pawar declined to be the candidate for the president’s post and requested all the leaders of the opposition to think of other names regarding the choice of candidates when the leaders meet once again on June 21 in Delhi,” he added.

    Polls to elect the successor to incumbent President Ram Nath Kovind would be held on July 18.

    The BJP-led NDA is comfortably placed to win the presidential election, with its vote share touching the 50 per cent mark of the total electors.

    As many as 17 opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, NCP and the Samajwadi Party, attended the crucial meeting convened to build consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the BJP-led NDA in the July 18 presidential election.

    A second meeting of the opposition parties will be convened by Pawar on June 20 or 21, sources said.

    After Pawar declined the offer, Banerjee later suggested the names of National Conference president and MP Farooq Abdullah and former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the sources said.

    “I sincerely appreciate the leaders of opposition parties for suggesting my name as a candidate for the election of the President of India, at the meeting held in Delhi. However I like to state that I have humbly declined the proposal of my candidature,” Pawar tweeted after the meeting.

    The meeting adopted a resolution: “In the forthcoming presidential election held in the year of the 75th anniversary of Indian independence, we have decided to field a common candidate who will truly serve as the custodian of the Constitution and stop the Modi government from doing further damage to India’s social fabric and democracy.”

    Banerjee said the significant aspect of this meeting was that all parties, barring one or two, have sent their representatives and senior leaders have attended it.

    “There will be one consensus candidate. All parties gave unanimous consensus for Sharad Pawarji, but he has said no. He said he is not interested,” she said.

    She alleged that the country’s institutions are being bulldozed and said there is need “for all of us to sit together.”

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said there were many senior leaders in attendance and he urged Pawar to preside over the meeting.

    Leaders of the Congress, Samajwadi Party, NCP, DMK, RJD and the Left parties attended the over two-hour-long meeting called by the Trinamool Congress supremo.

    Leaders of Shiv Sena, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), National Conference, PDP, JD(S), RSP, IUML, RLD and the JMM were among those who attended the meeting, which took place on the day the nomination for the presidential election began.

    Regional rivalries were on display at the opposition meeting as some non-BJP parties such as the AAP, SAD, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Odisha’s ruling BJD skipped it.

    The presidential election would be held on July 18.

    The process of nominations for the poll started on Wednesday, with 11 people filing their nominations on the first day.

    After the meeting, DMK leader T R Baalu said some leaders have requested that Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, Pawar and Banerjee negotiate and discuss the issue of a consensus opposition candidate for the presidential election with all non-BJP parties.

    RJD’s Manoj Jha, however, said the leaders would convince Pawar to reconsider the offer as he was the right candidate.

    CPI’s Binoy Viswam said, “There was consensus in the meeting that there should be only one candidate who is acceptable to all.”

    The Congress Wednesday said it will play a constructive role in ensuring all opposition parties arrive at a consensus candidate for the presidential poll, and urged them to be proactive rather than reactive in making the decision.

    Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Kharge said his party has no particular candidate in mind for the poll, and that it will sit together with other parties to arrive at a name acceptable to all.

    Kharge said the consensus opposition candidate for the highest constitutional post in the country should be someone committed to upholding the Constitution and preserving the secular fabric of “our diverse society and speaking out boldly against the forces of prejudice, hatred, bigotry and polarisation”.

    Kharge said as Congress President Sonia Gandhi is unwell and has been hospitalised, she has asked him to speak to leaders of various parties opposed to the “divisive and destructive policies of the RSS/BJP” to explore the possibility of a joint opposition candidate for the presidential election.

    The leaders who attended the meeting included Pawar and Praful Patel of the NCP; Kharge, Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Surjewala of the Congress; H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy of the JD(S); Akhilesh Yadav of the SP; Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP; and Omar Abdullah of the National Conference.

    The meeting which began at 3 pm ended a little after 5 PM.

    Banerjee last week invited leaders of 19 political parties, including seven chief ministers, for the meeting in the national capital to produce a “confluence of opposition voices” for the July 18 election.

    A day ahead of the meeting, Banerjee and Left party leaders had met Pawar at his residence separately to try and convince him to be the common opposition candidate for the top constitutional post.

    With the ruling NDA having about half of the votes of the electoral college and the possible support of fence-sitters like the BJD, AIADMK and YSR, its candidate is likely to sail through the contest.

  • Will deferring Assembly polls cost BJP presidential elections?

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Amid the possibility on deferring the upcoming Assembly elections due to threat of Covid’s rapidly-spreading Omicron variant, the Election Commission had, recently, said that all the parties want the elections at the scheduled time, but the opposition is indicating that the BJP is pushing for elections for their benefit even amid the threat of third wave.

    Sources in the opposition camp say that the deferment of election means that BJP will not be that comfortable in the Presidential elections which is likely to be conducted in June-July in 2022, as the President is indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both houses of parliament and the Assemblies.

    The electoral colleges comprises 776 MPs of both the houses and 4,120 MLAs of all the states and Union Territories. The electoral college has 1,098,903 votes, and a majority is 549,452 votes. As per the value of votes is considered, UP has highest number of votes, approximately 83,824 followed by Maharashtra and West Bengal.

    The BJP has brute majority in the assemblies of UP, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand and any deferment will lead to the assemblies being dissolved and will put the game in the opposition camp. If it joins hands and puts up a joint candidate, the BJP will find it tough to win the election. The only way would be the division in the opposition camp which may be a difficult task.

    If the opposition puts a candidate like NCP supremo Sharad Pawar who is capable of mustering support from others like the Trinamool Congress, the BJD, the TRS, the YSRCP, the CPI-M, the CPI and the other parties, then the BJP will have a tough task as it only the BJP will be having government in big states like MP, Gujarat and Karnataka.

    The past NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee has to field A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to get support from non-NDA parties, while UPA candidates Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee had attracted support from many political parties.