Yashwant Sinha Concludes his autobiography, aptly titled Relentless, with a line that has proved very relevant after he was elected on Tuesday as the general candidate of the opposition parties to contest next month’s presidential election. He writes: “For me, the end of my journey is not until I finally fall asleep.”
Although fighting at the age of 84, his long and distinguished public life came to an end. He was a prominent member of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet in which he served as Minister of Finance and External Affairs. after he left BJPHe became the Vice President of Trinamool Congress. With a rare courage among political leaders, he frequently visited Kashmir as the head of the Concerned Citizens’ Group and criticized attacks on the identity, dignity and democratic rights of the Kashmiri people. Narendra Modi government. In 2020, he started the grueling 3,000-km Gandhi Shanti Travel From Mumbai to Delhi to create public awareness about divisive politics and “state-sponsored violence”, as was evident in the attacks on anti-CAA protesters. His prolific and powerful pen continues to produce widely acclaimed newspaper articles.
Nevertheless, it seemed that the most active phase of his public life had come to an end. But it hasn’t happened. Now he is all set to fight the most challenging election of his life. He can’t win. But not all battles should be fought only for victory in the traditional sense. There is also a different kind of victory in fighting for our principles and beliefs which are in line with the urgent needs of the country. This is why Sinha’s candidature as the representative of the United Opposition is important for two reasons. First, by coming together for the presidential election, anti-BJP parties have answered a question millions of Indians have been asking, with dismay and desperation, since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014: “Where is opposition unity? Is?” The process of creating unity of all the opposition parties has started.
Second, the process is bound to gain momentum for the big fight for 2024. The resolution was clearly expressed in a joint statement issued after the meeting of the opposition parties: “The BJP government at the Center has utterly failed to meet its target. Promises… Be it the ED, the CBI, the Election Commission, is misusing the Governor’s office and other institutions as weapons against the opposition parties and the state governments run by them. We assure the people of India that the unity of the opposition parties, which is forged for the President. Elections… .Will be further strengthened in the coming months.”
Three leaders deserve special credit for this effort – Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee And Sonia Gandhi, Banerjee and Pawar started two crucial opposition meetings in New Delhi last week, which culminated in Sinha’s candidature. Pawar has displayed his extraordinary political acumen by achieving what seemed impossible in Maharashtra a few years back. Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. When these three leaders as well as Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi PartyRJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and others, possibly including, Nitish Kumar JD(U) – Start working together, there will be a big change in the political environment of the country.
Sinha’s words, “My journey is not the end,” holds true in the case of Draupadi Murmu, the BJP’s candidate for the presidential election. Her life has been a life of endless struggle and many tragedies, from which she sought solace by associating herself with the women-led spiritual movement, the Brahma Kumaris. The depression caused by the death of her husband and two sons prompted her to contemplate leaving public life. Nevertheless, destiny marked a new beginning, first as the Governor of Jharkhand and now, in all likelihood, as the next President of India. The prospect of a woman from a tribal community becoming the head of the republic should certainly be welcomed and enjoyed. Our republic belongs to all equally, and everyone, especially those belonging to marginalized communities should get opportunities to serve the nation.
However, considerations of identity politics, which have influenced the BJP’s decision, may not be enough to determine his suitability to be the President. The incumbent of that respected position, regardless of gender, caste, creed or tribe, must be committed and capable of serving as the custodian of the Constitution. In this context, sadly, we cannot ignore the self-styled calculations of the Prime Minister. The BJP’s choice of making a “Dalit President” five years ago turned out to be extremely disappointing. Not once has Ram Nath Kovind shown the courage to express his displeasure at the government’s repeated attacks on democracy, secularism and independence of institutions of governance. In 2019, he also acquitted Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in a horrific midnight “coup” to revoke President’s rule and swear in BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister. Compare this with several instances when Kovind’s predecessor Pranab Mukherjee publicly expressed his concern over the violation of the core values of the Constitution.
A rubber stamp president can suit the needs of an almighty prime minister. A tribal, other than a woman, elected as the President can give electoral advantage to the ruling party. But these are not the purposes for which the framers of the Constitution have created the post of head of state. The glory of Rashtrapati Bhavan lies less in its grand architecture and more in the extent to which its occupants faithfully ensure, without fear or favour, the supremacy of constitutional rule in India. Sinha or Murmu, this is what the nation expects from him.
(The author, formerly an aide of late Prime Minister Vajpayee, was actively involved in meetings of opposition parties that chose Sinha as their common candidate)