Sachin=GOD Posted April 4, 2012 Posted April 4, 2012 The Indian Presidential elections will be held in July this year and some of the names doing the rounds currently are Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-Prez Dr. Hamid Ansari, Dr. Karan Singh or if the UPA decides to make a big change in the Govt then there also a very remote possibility of Dr Manmohan Singh as Prez and Rahul Baba as PM :sad: Who are the other people who could become the next President? p.s. Mods please don't merge this with the "which non politicians would you like to see as President" thread.
shinchan Posted April 4, 2012 Posted April 4, 2012 next presidential election will be interesting.given UPA is not in power in most of the states we may see UPA candidate loosing in this.
Sachin=GOD Posted April 20, 2012 Author Posted April 20, 2012 Not a luxury suite Rajdeep Sardesai April 19, 2012 Five years ago, one 'almost' broke the story of India's next president. Amid feverish speculation, a source sent an SMS: "Congratulations! India is getting its first woman president and it is from your home state!". My instinctive reaction was to think of Nirmala Deshpande, a longstanding Gandhian and powerful votary of Indo-Pak peace. We even flashed her name as a likely choice. To be honest, Pratibha Patil, then Rajasthan governor, was one of the last names on our list of possible Maharashtrian women who would occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan. As it turned out, Patil's near-anonymity and relative low profile proved to be her biggest asset. In the last five years, Patil has lived up to her reputation of being the silent, almost nondescript president. Over this period, one can't recall a single major speech given or landmark initiative undertaken by Rashtrapati Bhavan. She may be India's first woman president, but there hasn't been any stirring of woman power or a concerted effort to use the presidential office to reach out to millions of women in the country at a time when the sex ratio has fallen to a new low. To her credit, Patil hasn't committed any major constitutional blunder either. But as the recent controversies over her post-retirement home in Pune and the Rs. 205 crore spent on her foreign trips suggest, the line between constitutionality and propriety is a thin one. Patil may not have violated the Constitution, but her extravagance on personal and family comfort does leave a bitter aftertaste. Which brings us to the central question as the nation looks for Patil's successor: who is an ideal president? The Constitution under Article 358 is typically prosaic: the individual must be a citizen of India, above the age of 35, eligible to contest a Lok Sabha election and must not hold an office of profit in a government body. What the Constitution doesn't prescribe is that a presidential appointment be determined by political subservience which, unfortunately, has become more the norm than an exception. In a sense, 1969 was the turning point. India's first three presidents were chosen principally on their distinguished track record in public service and little else. Rajendra Prasad, S Radhakrishnan and Zakir Hussain were as fine a trinity of presidents one might have hoped for, the first a freedom fighter, the other two men of great learning. While VV Giri was a well regarded labour leader, the manner of his appointment after the acrimonious 1969 split in the Congress ensured that the presidential race was infused with a heavy dose of politics. While the country had some very fine textbook presidents post-69 - none better than the country's first Dalit president KR Narayanan - we also had rubber stamp presidents like Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed whose tame acceptance of the Emergency proclamation of 1975 must be considered as the day Rashtrapati Bhavan was defiled. A presidential appointment, thus, became more about finding an individual who would do the bidding for the government of the day. Sycophantic politicians were invariably preferred to scholar statesmen, with Giani Zail Singh after being made president in 1982 by the Indira government being quoted as having famously remarked, "If my leader had said I should pick up a broom and be a sweeper, I would have done that. She chose me to be president!." The other dominant trait in choosing presidents has been the token symbolism attached to the post. Gianiji was made president to reach out to a Sikh community in foment. Narayanan was a man of learning, but his choice was influenced by the fact that the United Front government was looking for a Dalit 'face' in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Even missile man APJ Abdul Kalam was chosen by the BJP-led government less because of his scientific achievements and more because he gave the BJP an opportunity to shed its anti-Muslim image. As for Patil, clearly, the Congress-led government was trying to play the first woman president card to outsmart its opponents. Since 1969, all of India's presidents, with the exception of Kalam have been practising politicians. Kalam's success re-ignited the debate over whether an apolitical person can make a better president than someone whose political leanings are obvious. Kalam certainly did not bring with him the ideological baggage or individual loyalties that had burdened several of his predecessors. Moreover, his child-like enthusiasm and austere lifestyle made him enormously attractive to a generation which had grown increasingly cynical of the VIP culture that is invariably associated with influential politicians. One Kalam certainly doesn't make a presidential summer, and there is no guarantee that every 'apolitical' individual will make a better president. But, clearly Kalam's popularity among the aam aadmi should have been a signal for the political class that the country was looking for a president of stature whose track record of public service should be such that he or she is able to rise above the ordinariness of being a mere figurehead. Which is why this July's presidential election will provide another opportunity for the country's politicians to redefine the role and character of the presidency. Whoever is chosen for the post, the qualification should not revolve around caste or community or political biases. Choose a person who will elevate the post through a lifetime of individual achievement and public service. Not someone who owes their status solely to the benevolence of a political party and its leadership or is wrapped up in the trappings of power and sees Rashtrapati Bhavan as little more than a luxurious guest house. Rajdeep Sardesai is editor-in-chief, IBN 18 Network Hindustan Times
KhanSaab Posted April 20, 2012 Posted April 20, 2012 Hope its Hamid Ansari. He is a family friend :winky:
Sachin=GOD Posted April 21, 2012 Author Posted April 21, 2012 Hope its Hamid Ansari. He is a family friend :winky: he had high chances of becoming the next President till December 29th 2011 - on that day he made a mistake which could prove detrimental to his chances. It was the last day of the winter session of Rajya Sabha and there was a debate and subsequent voting on the Lokpal Bill scheduled in the Rajya Sabha but the Congress did not have the requisite numbers to get the Bill passed so after 11 hours of debate, Dr. Ansari suddenly adjourned the house. That day he not only lost the trust of the opposition but more importantly, lost the respect of many members so IMO it may be a little difficult for him to become the President now (unless Congress strikes a deal with SP, DMK, TMC etc and gets their unequivocal support) because as of now the UPA does not have enough votes to get its candidate elected. Narendra Modi says hi whats he got to do with the Presidential elections ??
bulbul Posted April 21, 2012 Posted April 21, 2012 why cant they make Rahu baba as president..youngest prez of India :yay:
Precambrian Posted April 21, 2012 Posted April 21, 2012 Hamid Anzari only... can't expect UPA to do adopt a new path like NDA did in case of Kalam... Oh those days... If only they could come back... A strong Vajpayeejee with a Kalam... fantastic times those...
Sachin=GOD Posted April 22, 2012 Author Posted April 22, 2012 Hamid Anzari only... can't expect UPA to do adopt a new path like NDA did in case of Kalam... Oh those days... If only they could come back... A strong Vajpayeejee with a Kalam... fantastic times those... there are some rumors that SP and TMC may join hands and ask Dr. Kalam to be their nominee for President - if he does accept then the NDA will certainly back him and Congress also may not be in a position to reject a person of his stature. All just rumors though...
beetle Posted April 22, 2012 Posted April 22, 2012 Kalam would be great.He is by far the most popular.Love him.
Sachin=GOD Posted April 23, 2012 Author Posted April 23, 2012 Ansari to Gopal Gandhi: Names float for Prez post The fluid political situation at the Centre means the Congress-led UPA needs best coalition management efforts to get its candidate elected as the next President. While the ruling dispensation is short of the halfway mark by 8% votes, the chances of the BJP-led NDA is slimmer as it hasless than one-third votes. The 12 non-UPA, non-NDA parties hold 24% votes of the electoral college. These regional parties are unlikely to vote collectively in one direction and will seek their pound of flesh in return for support. Out of this group, the SP and BSP enjoy premier slots with 1.12 lakh votes between them. Visits of party managers and potential candidates to power centres of regional parties such as Chennai, Patna and Kolkata have begun. The Congress brass has done its calculation on sources of additional support and is keeping fingers crossed on Mamata Banerjee. The Congress has also started placating its allies and supporters.Parties are tight-lipped about their candidates, likely to be named at the last moment. The possible scenario 1. The UPA needs 'vitamin M': Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati. Armed with Mamata's support, if it ropes in SP and BSP, the UPA can mop up 52% votes. 2. If Samajwadi Party is not forthcoming, the UPA requires the BSP. Then, it needs to reach out to parties like AIADMK and BJD. These two parties with a total of 67,135 votes can compensate for SP's 68,812 votes. 3. If Trinamool and Sharad Pawar's NCP switch over to the other side, the UPA need to fall back on BSP, SP and the Left parties. That gives the ruling coalition 50.18% votes. 4. If SP, BSP and TMC decide to back a non-UPA nominee, the Congress still has a chance. It will have to secure the entire 6% vote of the independents and smaller parties and bag AIADMK and BJD votes. 5. The BJP-led alliance has a tougher job. It not only needs help from former allies BSP, AIADMK, BJD, TDP and JD(S) but also needs to bring SP and TMC on board. This grand alliance can ensure 51% votes. Focus on consensus Candidate needs to be acceptable to allies. UPA & NDA may spring surprises at the last moment. Pratibha Patil & APJ Abdul Kalam had both been surprise, consensus choices. The process How the President is elected: The electoral college (the electors for the Presidential election) comprises the elected members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state assemblies. Nominated MPs can't vote. Weightage of MLAs' votes: Votes of the MLAs have different weightage, based on the state's population and the strength of the assembly. An MLA from AP has 148 votes while one from Punjab will have 116. Polling procedure: An elector has as many preferences as there are candidates. He/she will accord preferences like 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. Possible candidates: Hamid Ansari Strength: VP's elevation to the post of President is common. Being a Muslim, he may be acceptable to the SP - a key player. Weakness: Apparently none, but parties may prop up issues to scuttle chances. May also face challenge from another key Muslim nominee. AK Antony Strength: With his impeccable integrity, Kerala's Mr Clean can get support from some opposition quarters (like the Left). Weakness: The recent controversies surrounding the army, of which he has been a part in his capacity as the defence minister, may take a toll. Pranab Mukherjee Strength: Has goodwill across political lines. Nomination can fetch the extra votes UPA needs. Will easily be an unanimous choice. Weakness: As the going gets tough for the UPA, Mukherjee seems to be needed more at North Block than at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Meira Kumar Strength: Was the unanimous choice for Lok Sabha speaker's post in 2009. Being a Dalit and the daughter of Babu Jagjivan Ram may go in her favour. Weakness: At 67, she seems too young to be the President. Gopal Krishna Gandhi Strength: Being Mahatma Gandhi's grandson may help clear several hurdles. May emerge as the choice of Mamata Banerjee. Enjoys good equations with CMs Nitish Kumar, Naveen Patnaik and J Jayalalithaa. Weakness: With general elections round the corner, the Congress may like to see a political face in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Shivraj Patil Strength: Has an excellent equation with Sonia Gandhi despite his removal from the cabinet after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Has not ruffled opposition feathers in his gubernatorial role. Weakness: Will the Congress nominate another Patil and another Maharashtrian after Pratibha Devisinh Patil? Hindustan Times I'd add the names of Dr. Karan Singh and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to the list of possible contenders given in the article. Meanwhile Sharad Pawar is now talking about a "consensus" candidate and SP is saying that if all parties build a consensus on the name of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam then they would be very happy to accept - I hope that does happen.
Sachin=GOD Posted April 23, 2012 Author Posted April 23, 2012 Pranab Mukerjee...no way.. I don't think he has that much of a chance - thats because Congress needs Pranab the troubleshooter in North Block more than it needs Pranab the rubber stamp in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
asterix Posted April 23, 2012 Posted April 23, 2012 Even defence minister Antony's name going around.. :facepalm: And Shivraj Patil? Double :facepalm:
yoda Posted April 23, 2012 Posted April 23, 2012 A once revered post has now become a joke, again thanks to the mighty Kaangress.
Sachin=GOD Posted April 23, 2012 Author Posted April 23, 2012 A once revered post has now become a joke' date= again thanks to the mighty Kaangress. that happened a long, long time ago :( Since 1969 we've had very few good Presidents.
yoda Posted April 23, 2012 Posted April 23, 2012 that happened a long, long time ago :( Since 1969 we've had very few good Presidents. Well none as bad as the current one.
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