View: Draupadi Murmu’s candidature is a reflection of BJP’s ‘Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas’ model

Presidential polls don’t evoke a lot standard enthusiasm in a parliamentary democracy like India, primarily due to the truth that the President is the Constitutional Govt Head of the State and doesn’t train the form of powers which Presidents train in a Presidential system prevalent in international locations like america of America.

However, election of the President has its significance for the political system as a complete. Though the 42 nd Modification Act, 1976 stipulates that the manager powers of the President shall be exercised in accordance with the recommendation of his Council of Ministers, the workplace of the President is a prestigious one as a result of the incumbent represents the Indian state, each internally and externally.

In view of the esteemed constitutional standing conferred on the workplace of the President, his/her election stimulates attention-grabbing tutorial and mass media discourses. Intense political parleys earlier than the Presidential polls is a standard phenomenon and each the ruling coalition in addition to the opposition events have been weighing their choices over the previous few days.

The BJP-led NDA coalition on the Centre by advantage of its comfy majority is able to guaranteeing clean crusing for its candidate. Nevertheless, it had initiated a means of consultations with opposition events in its quest for a consensus candidate. In the meantime, the opposition had embarked by itself train by proposing fairly a number of names. Initially, the candidature of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar was proposed.

On his refusal to run for Presidency, the opposition explored the choices of fielding both Nationwide Convention chief Farooq Abdullah or former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi. Each declined the supply and ultimately the opposition picked former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha as its candidate for the Presidential polls. An erstwhile BJP chief, Sinha had his variations with the present get together management and had formally joined the All India Trinamool Congress. Regardless of his prospects within the ensuing elections, this offers a chance to Sinha to settle scores along with his former get together.

Lastly, Draupadi Murmu, former Jharkhand Governor and tribal chief of the BJP from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, has emerged because the NDA’S Presidential nominee. This can be a political masterstroke within the sense that the BJP-led NDA has performed three trump playing cards by proposing her candidature. She is tribal, girl and hails from a poor financial background. All three indicators place her within the marginalized class.

Her nomination has already evoked a way of satisfaction and euphoria in Odisha and can make sure the spontaneous help of not solely Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal, but in addition of legislators reducing throughout get together strains. If elected, she would be the first tribal girl to carry the very best workplace of the land.

Her elevation is more likely to increase the BJP’s declare as a champion of the socially and economically marginalized sections on the whole and of ladies empowerment particularly. The selection additionally displays the get together’s technique to widen and reinforce its social bases among the many marginalized and amplifies its picture as a genuinely nationwide get together.

Because the NDA Presidential nominee, Draupadi Murmu’s election to the highest constitutional workplace is a foregone conclusion. Her tenure will testify whether or not she acts as a custodian of the democratic rights and aspirations of all sections of the plenty transcending the obstacles of caste, class, gender and creed.

She is going to maintain the very best workplace at a vital juncture when the nation encounters a number of challenges. Whereas upholding constitutional values, she needn’t be a rubber stamp of the ruling dispensation, however might emulate a few of her illustrious predecessors to emerge as a very charismatic chief of the individuals.

(The writer is a Professor, Division of Political Science, NEHU, Shillong)