BJP questions Pratibha's credentials

The presidential elections remained a key preoccupation of the BJP's National Executive meeting, where both former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and leader of Opposition LK Advani said the Congress' preference for loyalty over stature was bad for democracy.

Both drew a parallel between a pliable president and the eclipse of democracy. "The roots of the Emergency of 1975 can be traced to 1969, when the power struggle in the Congress resulted in the defeat of the Congress' official candidate for president in favour of a loyalist," said Vajpayee.

"This resulted in the fact that Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad, who was president in 1975, did not even question the government's decision to impose internal emergency in the country," Vajpayee added.

The former prime minister demanded a public apology from the Union ministers who had criticised President APJ Abdul Kalam for considering running for a second term. The party's National Executive decided to thank Kalam for his dignified conduct as president.

The remarks indicate that the NDA's presidential campaign will focus on the fact that UPA candidate Pratibha Patil has been chosen for her loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family and not her stature. Advani said the revelations about the alleged financial misconduct of Patil were a cause for concern.

With the defeat in the Uttar Pradesh elections still fresh,Advani said there was a need for "suitable corrective action" in the state as the lessons learnt there had relevance in most other states.

Expressing concern over the debacle, Advani said the party units in many states needed urgent attention and corrective action. "In some places, strict disciplinary action is also needed," he said.