The election of Shri Ramnath Kovind as President proves that caste is no bar to reach the highest office and it shows the strength of Indian democracy
Dr Ravindra Agrawal
On July 25, Shri Ramnath Kovind took oath as 14th President of India. When he was declared elected for the highest post on July 20, many in the media commented that he is the first BJP man elected for Raisina Hill, while some said he is the second Dalit leader who became President of India. But when he was nominated as a Presidential candidate by the BJP Parliamentary Board, Shri Ramnath Kovind had clearly said that “now I am not a member of the BJP and I will work as representative of all the fellow countrymen”. After the election, when some media persons sought his reaction, he said he is the representative of deprived and downtrodden people of the country and his victory is a message to those discharging their duties with integrity. His first remarks after the triumph were very heart touching. Remembering his early village days he said, “It has been raining since morning in Delhi. This weather reminds me of my childhood days when I used to live in my ancestral village. We lived in a ‘kuchha’ house made of mud. The thatched roof couldn’t stop the water trickles during the rainy season. I, along with my brothers and sisters, used to stand in a corner and wait for the rain to stop. There would be many such Ramnath Kovinds who are getting drenched in the rain. Many would be working hard in farms and elsewhere to earn their livelihood in this rain. They would be shedding sweat to earn the night”s meal. Today, I wish to tell them that Ramnath Kovind of Paraunkh village is going to Rashtrapati Bhavan as their representative. I represent all those hardworking people. This is also a message to those who earn their livelihood with hard work and honesty.” He also said: “I never aspired to be the President. My victory is a message to those discharging their duties with integrity. My election as President is an evidence of the greatness of Indian democracy and I assure the people that I’ll serve the nation in the spirit of ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’ (May all be happy).
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These remarks are self-explanatory about whose representative Shri Kovind is and what is his objective—Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah. He is widely known as a kind hearted, social worker, soft-spoken, good parliamentarian, expert of the Constitution and a good administrator. His tenure as Governor of Bihar has been a landmark. On his appointment as Governor, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had strongly reacted saying why did the Center not consult him before this appointment as per the Sarkaria Commission recommendations? His reaction was based on some prior conflicts between Governors and CMs. But the nature and working style of Shri Kovind impressed the people like Nitish Kumar so much that when he was nominated as Presidential candidate by the BJP Parliamentary Board, Nitish Kumar himself was the first CM from the Opposition to support his candidature saying it is ‘Pride for Bihar’ that its Governor will become President of India. Nitish Kumar is a well known critic of the NDA in general and the PM Narendra Modi, in particular.
The significance of this Presidential Election is multidimensional. During polls, Shri Kovind received 66 per cent votes from East to West and North to South, i.e. from each and every state of the country. Although the NDA is not in power in some states, the parties who are not the partners of NDA came forward and supported him wholeheartedly. Notable support was from JDU, BJD, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, YSR Congress and AIADMK.
Message to the World
The election of Shri Kovind gives a strong message to the whole world that there is a stable and strong government at the Centre in India and federalism is getting stronger under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and in spite of
political differences Bharat is united on national issues.
Strength of Indian Democracy
This election is also very much significant in national perspective. It shows the strength of Indian democratic system. It clearly indicates that a person, with his capabilities, dedication, integrity and honesty can reach to the highest position of the nation, no matter he comes from a marginalised section of the society.
Division in Opposition
Right from the very first day, the Congress tried to use Presidential election as an opportunity to form a formal ‘Mahagathbandhan’ on ‘Bihar pattern’ prior to 2019 general elections, so that they can give a strong fight to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress High command tried its best, but in vain. It is not wrong to say that the idea of forming a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ became the victim of high headedness of the Congress High command.
The Congress wanted to impose its leadership on all the Opposition parties, which was not acceptable to many prominent Opposition leaders. Most of the Opposition parties agreed on Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Raj Mohan’s candidature as Vice President, but all the times Congress wanted to promote the name of its party leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Meira Kumar as Presidential candidate. In this tussle, they could not decide their candidate in time and provided an edge to the BJP to nominate its candidate. As a result, an important leader of the proposed Mahagathbandhan and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, rendered his party’s support to Bihar Governor Shri Ramnath Kovind. Not only this, he went to the extent to say that election of Shri Kovind as President of India would be pride for Bihar.
Even cross-voting from the Opposition parties shows that the Congress failed to keep its own MLAs united. The major shock faced by Congress was in election-bound Gujarat, where veteran Congress leader Shankar Singh Vaghela camp voted in favour of the BJP candidate and on the next day he disassociated himself from the Congress. Not only in Gujarat, but the NDA has made inroads into Opposition camp in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Tripura, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Assam, etc. About 100 MLAs and MPs cross-voted.
It may be the after effect of Presidential election that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned on July 26 on the issue of corruption charges on his Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. And next day, i.e. on July 27, he formed a government in the State with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Strong Leadership
Although NDA did not have majority of its own for the Presidential election, the support of non-NDA parties and
cross-voting from Opposition camp proved fruitful for the BJP because its nominee Shri Kovind got 2930 votes
valued 7,02,044 votes while the Congress nominee Smt. Meira Kumar could got only 1844 votes valued 3,67,314 votes and Shri Kovind successfully declared elected by a huge margin of 3,67,314 votes. Among the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, Shri Kovind received support of 522 MPs out of the total 768, and Smt. Meira Kumar could get only 225 MPs support. Such a thumping support of MPs would be beneficial to the BJP Vice Presidential candidate Shri M Venkaiah Naidu. Presidential election proved as a morale booster for the BJP and its leadership.
It is to be noted that in 1990s, OBC and Dalit issues influenced Indian politics to the great extent. At that time the BJP was treated as ‘politically untouchable’ and considered a party of cities and upper castes. But during the Lok Sabha elections 2014, BJP totally turned the table in its favour. The credit for it goes to its policies of social
harmony and ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.’ BJP nominated Shri Modi as its Prime Minister candidate who hails from backward class and Shri Kovind as President who belongs to the Scheduled Caste and changed the political equations of 90s.
Some western intellectuals and their followers in India have been blaming the Indian society as Bhramanical, which discriminated the peoples on the basis of caste. But now this election proved them totally wrong, as it shows that caste is no bar to reach the highest office. Any one from the downtrodden strata can become President or Prime Minister.
(The writer is a senior journalist)
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