"The President cannot force his view"

February 27: Election is time for old warhorses to revisit the route to power. Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar is back, fighting the election, making a statement or two and calling an occasional press conference. Neerja Chowdhury spoke to the Young Turk of yore as he emerges as the unlikely advocate for some old rivals. Excerpts.

No one was ready then to speak up in favour of a floor test, including the BJP or the Congress Party. Kalyan Singh was given the opportunity of a floor test last time, but the manner in which he went about it hardly covered democracy with grace or glory. What moralright does the BJP have to talk of ethical values?

The timing of the Governor’s actions on the eve of the poll, and giving Jagdambika Pal an additional three days to prove his majority, all this raised many doubts about the Governor’s intentions.
It was not a normal situation. The question before the Governor was whether he should allow the government to manipulate the election process for even a day more. What I am saying is not imaginary, especially in Mulayam Singh’s constituency.

The Government machinery in Uttar Pradesh was totally misused. I have fought many a bitter battle in elections but never in Ballia have I known such cartoons, filthy leaflets, posters without any pressline and the government machinery did not even move its little finger. The local administration sent a message that the SPG should not be allowed to come to Ballia because they might rig the elections! Taking the overall view, the Governor was justified in taking immediate action, though according to strictdemocratic norms it may not be justified.

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Do you feel the President is bound by the advice of the Government in all circumstances?
Yes, except when no government is possible. He has to ensure the formation of a government because the country cannot remain without one. The President has every right to give advice and guidance. But if the government does not agree, he cannot force his view.

Sonia Gandhi called Atal Behari Vajpayee a liar….
When the BJP leader said about the Swedish Government something which the government denied later, no one said anything. But if Sonia Gandhi said that Vajpayee had lied, everyone came down on her. Any lady would like to respect the memory of her husband. It is only natural and human. It was not expected of the leader of the stature of Atal Behari Vajpayee to use a news item emanating from questionable sources to denigrate a person who is no more. You should understand her feelings.

What does it say for the Congress and the politythat a 113-year old party has to turn to someone with foreign origins to bail it out?
Responsible leaders of all parties are inviting foreigners to save this country. What could be worse than this? Why single out an individual. It is not a happy thing but it is a psychology we have created. At least she has lived in India for 20-30 years.

Do you feel that naturalised citizens should not hold high office?
There are countries where naturalised citizens are not allowed to hold high office, but that is for the people to decide. If Indian people want her as prime minister, who am I to stop it? I am not panicky about an individual.

Do you think she can become the Prime Minister?

Immediately, I see no chance.

The other criticism is that she has no political experience…
There have been many prime ministers who have hardly had any kind of a track record…

But she is a complete newcomer.
She may not have been making speeches, but that does notmean she has not been in politics. After all, NTR became the top leader of a State only in 6 months. How long did it take Jayalalitha? No one took objection then. We are selective in our criticism. If things favour us, it is all right, if not we scream.

Now even V.P. Singh has stated that Sonia Gandhi should not be blamed for Bofors…
Better late than never. Rajiv Gandhi made one mistake on Bofors, when he said that no one had taken commissions. He should have stated that commissions are a normal part of international trade. By the time we have finished we would have spent more than Rs 65 crore (estimated kickbacks) just on investigating Bofors.

Do you see the scenario which took shape last week in Uttar Pradesh repeating itself at the Centre?
Maybe, maybe not. The outcome of the elections will determine national alliances.