Manmohan Singh’s name has not figured yet in all the discussions on the presidential election. Electing him to the highest post in the land will provide him with a logical and smooth transition to occupy the post of a rubber-stamp president. Since Pranab Mukherjee cannot be spared from the government, it would be appropriate to make him prime minister. As a matter of strategy, Rahul Gandhi should wait till the next election to occupy the post. If he becomes the prime minister now and the Congress loses, then his appeal to the masses will be questioned. Otherwise, the party cadres may be blamed for not following up the good work of Gandhi to ensure victory. On the other hand, if the party wins he can take the credit. However, the ideal arrangement in the interest of the nation would be to have Abdul Kalam as president and Meira Kumar as vice-president.
A Seshan, Mumbai
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