tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15602189.post3993931852800681197..comments2023-09-21T16:17:51.838+05:30Comments on Law and Other Things: President's second term: The Myth of conventionsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09348738084817273397noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15602189.post-53673630426292330652007-05-08T01:35:00.000+05:302007-05-08T01:35:00.000+05:30My guess on the politics behind Rajendra Prasad is...My guess on the politics behind Rajendra Prasad is to be found in the differences between the Nehru wing and the soft hindutva-center-right wing of the Congress Party led by the Satraps such as GB Pant, SK Sinha and BC Roy. Both Sinha and Roy were acolytes of Dr.Prasad. It was interesting to know that Nehru was even opposed to Prasad's 1st term(Shashi Tharur's biography of Nehru). It was Patel's move to propose Prasad to deny Rajaji the presidency which can be traced back to their differences in Quit India movement. My belief is if we go back and read 50s newspapers, we would find that Nehru was not such an unchallenged figure in our polity, on the contrary actively kept in check by forces in his own party.Srinivasanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02464491851738122345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15602189.post-85883644553371500642007-05-07T11:34:00.000+05:302007-05-07T11:34:00.000+05:30Dear Mr. Venkatesan,Thanks, both for posting this ...Dear Mr. Venkatesan,<BR/><BR/>Thanks, both for posting this piece, and for your stimiulating analysis of the issue, which I found very persuasive. I think you are right to point out that both Khare and PC Alexander attach far more importance to a series of incidents than they should. A pattern does not necessarily amount to a legally binding convention. <BR/><BR/>As to the politics behind Dr. Rajendra Prasad's second term, and the denial of one for Dr. Radhakrishnan, one good source is S. Gopal's fascinating biography of his father, S. Radhakrishnan. Titled 'Radhakrishnan: A Biography', it was published by OUP in 1992. Though Ramachandra Guha counts this as the leading biography by an Indian about an Indian, Gopal's views on this issue may well be a bit biased, given that it was his father who was in contention in both cases. That may well be a good starting point for information on these episodes.Arun Thiruvengadamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15902119597448574508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15602189.post-16095283284037535732007-05-07T10:39:00.000+05:302007-05-07T10:39:00.000+05:30Dear Mr.Srinivasan,I wish if someone throws light ...Dear Mr.Srinivasan,<BR/>I wish if someone throws light on why and how Dr.Rajendra Prasad got a second term - even though his first term exposed acute differences between him and Nehru on several issues. I would also like to know the kind of debate in the press during the selection of the President to succeed Dr.Radhakrishnan. Was Dr.Radhakrishnan's second term an issue at that time? <BR/>I appreciate your view that Dr.Gopalakrishna Gandhi is an ideal choice. In my view, Dr.Kalam may be considered for a second term, because he is the first President to hail from a non-political background, and still understand the intricacies of Presidency and try to do justice to the responsibilities to the extent possible. Secondly, he was completely non-partisan in his functions, even though it was the NDA Government which first proposed his name and secured him enough support across the political spectrum. We need a President who is willing to learn, not someone who carries the past baggage.V.Venkatesanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08138846925562952785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15602189.post-36491055047464705062007-05-06T19:21:00.000+05:302007-05-06T19:21:00.000+05:30As always, a very well argued piece by Mr.Venkates...As always, a very well argued piece by Mr.Venkatesan, clarifying the distinction between convention and precedent. I believe that true to its original intent of the position, presidential election has always been ceremonial, with all the votes counted, more or less before the election.<BR/><BR/>The only exception when there was some suspense due to an impending split in the Congress and the "vote according to conscience" pleading by Indira Gandhi. <BR/><BR/>The whole exercise is reduced to finding a favorable person, unilaterally by the ruling party if it has the votes, or colluding with others and even the opposition if it doesnt have enough votes (as in the case of Dr.Kalam). Past performance or the lack there of has not been a predominant issue.Second terms have been denied to seekers such as Zail Singh and K.R.Narayanan because the ruling dispensation was extremely suspicious because of past experiences.<BR/><BR/>The position is such that neither UPA + Left nor NDA + others can have their candidate elected on their votes alone. Some across the floor compromise is in order.I am going out on a limb by suggesting that Gopal Krishna Gandhi might emerge as a dark horse.Srinivasanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02464491851738122345noreply@blogger.com