145;I speak about Vedanta, that bugged the Left146;

In an utopian republic, perennial presidential candidate Dr Karan Singh should have moved into Rashtrapati Bhavan, as he believes in the wisdom of the philosopher king.

In an utopian republic, perennial presidential candidate Dr Karan Singh should have moved into Rashtrapati Bhavan, as he believes in the wisdom of the philosopher king. That was not to be. But Singh, a self-claimed practitioner of the higher life, has taken a stoical view of the frenetic events that led to his final rejection as presidential contender. 8220;I have to practice what I preach,8221; says Singh, 8220;so I have no regrets. But I was in the line until the last minute.8221;

So convinced is Singh that he was in the race that hours before the name was finalised by the Congress-led UPA, he met Karunanidhi to back his candidacy. 8220;It was my own initiative,8221; he admits candidly. So, what went wrong? 8220;I hear it was the Left which vetoed me. The Communists are atheists and so were naturally opposed to my deep religious feelings. I always speak about Vedanta and that was bugging them. However, I am relieved it is over. It is 10 years since I have popped up in every election, and I am not going to contest ever again.8221;

The mood is more realistic and sober in the office of other presidential hopeful, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. His aides may be a trifle disappointed but they are matter-of-fact. As one of them says, 8220;Our boss was never in the race as he has always said it was not an individual8217;s decision but the choice of the party. He believes he is a loyal soldier who follows the orders of the generals.8221;

But they are delighted that their minister has emerged from the whole embarrassing episode of being nominated not by his own party, but the Left, triumphant and winning.

It is not a reputation that Home Minister Shivraj Patil can claim after the unseemly put down he got from the Left. Patil8217;s reputation is in tatters after the Left8217;s snub. Sonia Gandhi8217;s First Candidate as First Citizen, Patil was reduced from Hero to Zero, when she had to finally announce Pratibha Patil8217;s name.

It is with fatalistic resignation his aides have accepted his ouster from the presidential race. 8220;It is politics after all, anything can happen,8221; they say wearily.

The air in Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee8217;s office is finally clear. Speculation about the Left leader8217;s candidacy swirled after Chatterjee burst forth to a quizzing media about his intentions if he was offered the post. 8220;It would be an honour for any Indian if such an offer was made,8221; he had said dutifully. While his office had hoped he would make it to Raisina Hill, there is no disappointment either. 8220;He would have been an asset to the nation,8221; they chorus. Perhaps it is Congress treasurer, Motilal Vohra, yet another presidential hopeful who was waiting in the wings, who puts it into place when he says, 8220;I was never in the race, it was all a creation of the media.8221;