The National democratic Alliance (NDA) has drawn first blood in the battle for Rashtrapati Bhavan by announcing the current Bihar Governor, Ram Nath Kovind, as the Presidential election nominee. NDA’s nominee, Ram Nath Kovind, has impeccable credentials, is 71 years old and a lawyer by profession. He successfully took the civil services examination in 1975, but did not join and instead, started his law practice representing the Central Government in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India. He has been associated with the BJP since the early 1990s. The party fielded him twice in UP, from the state assembly constituencies of Ghatampur and Bhognipur, in separate elections, both of which he lost. Undeterred, he stayed on with the BJP as the chief of the party’s SC/ST wing.
The President of India’s office is of critical importance, not only because the President gives assent to a bill, that becomes an act or law, but also because the office of the President of India has the appointing powers to Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts of India, Attorney General, Chief Minister of National Capital Territory of Delhi and various other important offices. The President of India makes important appointments to various commissions and can seek a report on any matter from these commissions. Some of these commissions are, the Finance Commission, National Commission of Backward Class, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and various other commissions (Nanavati commission, Nanavati-Mehta Commission, etc.).
The idea behind CAG and these various commissions is to keep a check on the workings of the government, its expenditure and its conduct while punishing the guilty for heinous crimes.
At the onset of coalition politics, parties could have started the tradition of electing a truly neutral President, however, the powers at the centre have always successfully managed to place a government friendly President. A truly neutral President would be great for India Inc.. The popular rhetoric made about the Presidential election nominee’s belonging to a certain minority religion, caste or linguistic group, however, is just a ruse to put their own man in the high office. So as to go about running the public offices and public monies undisturbed!
The election will surely spell out the true sentiment of individuals elected to head India’s public offices. Other parties may nominate their own candidates for this important election, just wait and watch!
By Vishwasjeet Singh- Editor in Chief – www.estrade.in
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The President in Waiting – Vishwasjeet Singh, Editor in Chief, Estrade
