Relaxed and confident, the veteran politico and ruling coalition’s Presidential nominee is curious about and looking forward to his next job
On the cusp of starting a “new innings in my life”, the ruling UPA’s Presidential candidate, Pranab Mukherjee, confesses he’s unsure if a workaholic person like him, a 24x7 politician, wouldn’t be bored in the placid environs of Rashtrapati Bhavan. “Only the future will tell,” says Mukherjee, laughing heartily at the prospect of being bored as the next incumbent there.
Relaxed and smiling, it was a sight to behold as Mukherjee interacted with the media here this evening, individually walking over to each and every reporter and photographer, shaking hands and thanking them for a long association with him, stretching over five decades of political life. His long-term associate, Omita Paul, was in peals of laughter, looking on at his enthusiasm.
Mukherjee pointed out the irony as to how through these years, with the exception of two years when he was out of the party, he had an identity as a party representative and spoke on its behalf. “Today, I cannot speak on behalf of the government,” said Mukherjee, explaining why he could not field any questions on politics as a Presidential candidate.
Although overtly modest and humble, Mukherjee had no doubts and was confident of Raisina Hill being his next home.
While he made it a point to refrain from any conversation on the Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee or P A Sangma’s jibes, replying with a terse, “No comments”; he readily took interest in queries on future life at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Asked if he would enjoy walking on the fabled lawns of the Mughal Gardens, he asked, “Do Presidents walk there?”, and amused when told the late Zail Singh did. Asked whether he would continue interacting after he moved to Raisina Hill, he replied, “I have no idea of the lay of the land there” but added with certainty, “The President does meet people.”
He cited the comprehensive communication system that had been set up by the ‘People’s President’, A P J Abdul Kalam, whether it was to interact with students or the media.
“Only two persons who were active Members of Parliament have gone on to becoming the President of the country, Dr Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Giani Zail Singh,” he mused.
While he refused to comment on the yet non-committal TMC ally, he happily shared his interaction with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar while visiting the state as part of his campaign. Kumar told Mukherjee, “I am ready to receive the President and note the Presidential candidate.” Mukherjee recalled his long association with Kumar and the common friends they shared.
When asked about the widely discussed “conscience vote”, Mukherjee categorically stated, “Elections should take place on party lines and whatever the individual party decides should be abided by.” His opponent, the Bharatiya Janata Party-supported Purno Sangma, has been making loud claims of gaining from the secret ballot cast by MPs and MLAs.
On a more personal note, he said, the “regret” he’d always have was, “I couldn’t do as much as I wanted,” quoting Rabindranath Tagore, something he’d been often repeating nowadays, ‘I have received much more than I have given.”
A senior Cabinet minister confessed jokingly that they were wary of the ‘workaholic’ Mukherjee taking over as President, scrutinising every Bill with a toothcomb. “Imagine how he will react when any Bill comes before him — asking for lengthy explanations and raising 100 questions.” Mukherjee has been the lynchpin around which the UPA government functioned thus far and now with him going on to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Congressmen are apprehensive of what life will be like with Pranab as President.
