Con in consensus

Good that both BJP and Congress have decided on a contest for president. Let the debates begin

Good that both BJP and Congress have decided on a contest for president. Let the debates begin

The July presidential election is throwing up daily possibilities of political realignment. In a situation where the numbers do not add up for the ruling UPA,even if it were to count on its allies,which it cant,and given that the main opposition front falls way short of the magic figure as well,two proposals have gained some currency in the last few days. Lets choose a president by consensus,says one. And,let him/her be non-political. The suggestions are related: since the numbers are so tight and consensus will be difficult to form on a political candidate, a non-political candidate must be installed in Rashtrapati Bhavan by common agreement. This solution may look more wholesome than it really is.

The lack of a ready-made majority for any formation in the electoral college is a thin argument for an artificially crafted agreement across party and alliance lines. In an argumentative polity,consensus is not just hard to come by. It is often used as camouflage for the arbitrary and authoritarian shortcircuiting of the hard labour of politics the Congress tradition of unanimity on key organisational posts is a barely veiled assertion of the supreme leaders prerogative to have her way,nominate her team. How will consensus on a presidential candidate be fairly arrived at among bickering political formations which disagree with each other on most issues? Unanimity on whose candidate? High commands may still use the weight of their authority to curb differences and disagreements within parties,but fortunately the days when an Indira Gandhi could install her candidate in Rashtrapati Bhavan,no questions asked,are long over. Now,elected MLAs who make up the electoral college along with elected MPs ensure that regional parties voices are heard in the presidential election,along with that of the national parties. That is,national and regional parties and groups must engage each other in a process of give and take to canvass support for their own candidate.

The distinction between a political and a non-political president is a spurious one. Even if it were possible to exorcise politics from the president,it will not be possible to take the president out of politics. Rashtrapati Bhavan can send strong signals to the executive,even quietly nudge public discourse. Inviting a party or a group to form the government in the event of an indecisive verdict is guided by precedent and well-established legal rulings but how the president goes about it is tremendously significant. All these involve political calls and judgements. And demand fairness and independence being apolitical is clearly no qualification.