The Hindu Business Line : Lessons from presidential poll

On July 25, Ms Pratibhja Patil will be sworn in as India’s first woman President — I wish I could say, Period! Cursorily glancing through the print media, and watching discussions in a couple of TV channels,

I see they are faithful to facts, but not markedly effusive in hailing her victory. One renowned commentator, ordinarily prone to be critical of the BJP and the NDA and friendly to the Congress, says: “Ms Pratibha Patil will be more representative of today’s political class, holier than thou in public…”

Another paper known for professionalism and objectivity implies that there should have been due diligence “before nominating a person who was guaranteed (election) by the arithmetic of the electoral college” and contrasts this with the selection of the Vice-Presidential candidate made by the Left, “especially the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which took care to do due diligence.”

First and foremost, then, due diligence emerges as the imperative criterion for ensuring that nominations to any Constitutional authority in future should be subjected to the strictest prior scrutiny.

When the screening of the background of persons appointed to government posts is done by way of a normal precaution, a casual attitude about selection of candidates for the nation’s two highest offices is inexcusable.

Second, it is a common psychological trait of detractors of a person to keep their eyes peeled for any omission or commission on the latter’s part just to be able to say, “I told you so!” This makes it necessary for the new President to avoid giving even the slightest impression of departure from the norms of propriety or rectitude.

For instance, whenever in the past years, during my earlier official career, I had been put up in Raj Bhavans, or had to pay visits to Rashtrapti Bhavan, what struck me on more than a few occasions was the number of relatives and friends of the dignitaries being in residence, some for long durations.

In view of the allegations, made mostly by Congresspersons themselves, against the new President’s husband, brothers and close relatives circulating in the media or forming part of police investigation or court proceedings long before her nomination, she has to be on guard against giving scope for any perception that they are using the Rashtrapati Bhavan for holding legal consultations in connection with ongoing investigations and court cases or furthering their business interests.

Inevitable corollary

Third, the smooth conduct of the election was marred this time by the confusion over whether political parties can ask their legislators in Parliament and State Assemblies to vote for or against a particular presidential candidate or to abstain.

The Election Commission has clarified that there can be no party mandate or whip issued to the those constituting the electoral college and that they were free to vote for the candidate of their choice without fear or favour, or let or hindrance.

This is an inevitable corollary of the principle of secret ballot itself which India’s founding fathers deliberately built into the system of proportional representation by single transferable vote.

The debate on Article 44 (now Article 55) of the draft Constitution also indicates that the secret ballot was meant to enable the electoral college to vote for the best person for the job, uninfluenced by political or other extraneous considerations.

It is best, therefore, the election of the President (and the Vice-President) in future is held either by forging a consensus among political parties and the civil society or by keeping the choice of contesting candidates above party politics.

B. S. RAGHAVAN