By D N Singh
The forthcoming Presidential poll is growing quizzical for the political observers as the scenario, which has played out, shows that it can tilt the balance towards either of the one side.
Practically, it is a battle of guts between the NDA and the opposition parties which brace up to upset the ruling apple cart.
It is a conglomeration of the non-BJP ruled states those who, under no specific face leading the charge, are voicing notes of intolerance to any Presidential candidate imposed by the NDA.
Playing on the front foot, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has convened a meeting of the leaders of all opposition parties and chief ministers of the opposition ruled states, in New Delhi on June 15.
With an eye on the forthcoming Presidential polls, #WestBengal CM #MamataBanerjee has convened a meeting of the leaders of all opposition parties and chief ministers of the opposition ruled states, in New Delhi on June 15. The meeting will be held at the Constitutional Club. pic.twitter.com/BdKGXd5O9W
— IANS (@ians_india) June 11, 2022
NDA has many things in its favour except a few numbers (vote values) which the latter would try to get credited into its account anyhow, from somewhere.
Among the non-BJP ruled states, the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the most vocal critic of the Modi-led dispensation at the Centre, has donned the garb of one to inject a fresh metaphor of unity among the opposition parties in the country.
Even she has reportedly shot a letter to Naveen Patnaik, Odisha chief minister, requesting the latter to keep his state’s interest in priority while participating in the election for the new President of India. The message she meant in the latter is too explicit.
A rough arithmetic says, the NDA has an inherent strength to face the opposition’s challenge to its presidential candidate (yet to be announced) but a crucial shortage of about 18k to 19k vote value to sail through the numerical turmoil staring at it.
It is natural, in that case, that the BJP-led NDA is out on an window shopping spree to get some states (non-BJP ruled) in its favour.
Except Karnataka, the NDA has little to fish in the Southern parts except Andhra Pradesh under Jagan Reddy, the chief minister, who has not made it so abundantly clear as what would be his State’s stance.
That leaves Odisha, a state with the required magic numbers (about 31k vote value) which can help NDA float through safely.
However, Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, known for his political acumen and composure, has always weighed his options in such matters with enough political prudence in the past. And this time also, his reported stance on Presidential poll remains within the ambit of political visions to be appropriately timed.
That way both Andhra Pradesh or Odisha emerge to be the deciding states.
Mamata has forwarded a letter to 22 leaders which include the chief ministers of different opposition-ruled states. The recipients of the letter include Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, among others.
