UPA is too smart to announce Pranab Da's name as its Presidential candidate on a day when Rajat Gupta has been sentenced for 25 years imprisonment in USA... Nice way to curb the news... It seems dada is really master of crisis management..!
So, finally after a too much drama over the rubber stamp's post UPA decided upon the name of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Dada is the man who always rescued Congress when its in crisis and saved its government.
I couldn't believe when they sidelined Hamid Ansari and Ex. President Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Kalam's name from the list of possible candidates. But Dada's name was not an unexpected one. There are several reasons behind announcing the 77 year old Bengali Babu's name.
If we look at Congress party today, Dada is the strongest contestant for the post of Prime Minister of India. Even when Manmohan Singh was appointed as PM in 2004 then too it was Mukherjee who had the stronghold. He could have become Prime Minister in 1991 but Narsimha Rao managed to sit on the chair.
Now, when Manmohan Singh has enjoyed the post twice, the only senior candidate for the PM's post in Congress is Pranab Mukherjee and a major threat for Gandhi scion Rahul's aspirations of becoming the Prime Minister of India.
Sonia Gandhi not only managed to garner support for Pranab Mukherjee's selection as President but also she created a way for him to retire from active politics. Now if, Pranab Da recieves the required votes (as expected) he would be the next President. Road is clear for Rahul Baba.
Interestingly, Mamta Banerjee opposed Pranab Mukherjee's name for the candidature. But its indigestible to accept a Bengali not supporting another. Was it a plan to push Congress to propose Dada's name in rataliation. And at the last moment Mulayam Singh Yadav came cycling and waving green flag for Dada. All seems preplanned.
While as on the other hand news is coming from America that business titan Rajat Gupta has been found guilty in three scandals and have been sentenced for 25 years imprisonment by an American court. I am amazed to see why Congress chose to make the announcement on the same day. His sentence can give many jolts to Indian economy but the UPA curbed the headlines with Dada's crisis management skills.
If all went as expected then Pranab Da will be the next president, we will see him for next five years on every Republic Day and Independence Day. And after five years Dada will be silently resting in his orchard. We won't hear him then. Media is shouting its Dadagiri but am amazed to understand, is it?