Need a President

There were questions raised when Pratibha Singh Patil was picked up from nowhere by Sonia Gandhi and made the President of India. Benefit of doubt was given since she will be the first women president of India etc.

The incumbent is completing an almost inconsequential term, she was hardly visible on the national scene and struggled to meet the standards of the office. Coming soon after the active APJ Abdul Kalam, Pratibha found it hard to match the speed, intellectual sharpness and charisma of Kalam.

Beyond the above the president's office was in the news for the wrong reasons, 230 odd crores spent on foreign visits ( was something achieved? FDI etc ? ). This is a lot of money for a country like India. If we go by the planning commission standards of INR 36/day lot of folks can live for a long time on 231 crores. Also the Pune house for president, frequent trips to Pune etc brought down the image of the president.

Pratibha singh patil had an opportunity as the first women president of the country to talk about women's rights, female foeticide, 30% reservation for women in the legislatures etc. She did not set the agenda and missed an opportunity to be the voice for Indian Women.

With Sh.Pranab Mukherji leading the pack in the race to the Raisina we can hope to see an elevation in the role. A man of great integrity and intellect he is indeed the right choice to restore dignity to the office of the president. While he is congressman he will not be a push over on policy issues and will apply his mind. Ruling dispensations better be wary of Pranab the president.