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Political
Diary
New Delhi, 25 July 2017
Bahujan Bahumat
Sangh
Ideology In Raisina Hill
By Poonam I Kaushish
The old gives way to
the new on Raisina Hill. Meet India’s 14th Rashtrapati Ram Nath
Kovind, a BJP old hand. While the symbolism of his accession is huge it underscores
an important milestone in our political history which till date has been
dominated by the left liberal Nehruvian ideology. Call it destiny or a
conspiracy of political circumstances, Kovind’s ascendancy to the Presidency
has broken with tradition. Time will tell how it changes the future.
How should one
describe him? Kovind 71, a low-profile Dalit leader enjoying a clean
reputation who has steered clear of
controversy in his over 26-year-old political career who held various
organizational positions in the BJP has already secured his place in history as India’s first
President from the BJP-RSS’s ideological stock. Said he while filing his
nomination papers last week, “The President is above Party politics. The
country comes first, not politics”.
Undeniably, in this
“battle of ideologies for a new India” the Opposition, has not only lost real
time but also emblematically overtaken and out-smarted by a restless
over-active Saffron Parivar. Thereby marking a paradigm shift whereby the top
four Constitutional positions President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Lok
Sabha Speaker are from the Sangh stable and tutored on its ideological
moorings.
A Saffron quadruple
heralding a new political model: The Sangh Model to Power crafted to grab
power, debilitate the Opposition and pursue Modi’s governance agenda in the run
up to the 2019 elections. Whereby, all four in coordinated conjunction would
ensure that governance is fast-tracked with two years to go for general
elections.
With Kovind at the
helm, Modi can hope for a smoother ride. He might give a leg up to plans for
merging Assembly and State elections, electoral reforms etc along-with
giving NaMo moral and institutional
support to bring all stake holders on the same page.
Two, Kovind the
second Schedule Caste Head of State after KR Narayanan reflects a change of
course for the Modi-Shah BJP from its traditional Brahmin-Bania vote base to
emerge as a champion of the ‘Bahujan samaj’ with both Prime Minister Modi and
President belonging to a backward caste and Dalit.
This outreach is not
only to woo the community comprising Mahadalits, OBC’s tribals etc which
constitutes 20% of the population and garner votes but a signal that the
Saffron Parivar intends to expand its share pan India's political map. Said Kovind,
“There are so many Kovinds’ in the country….this Kovind is going to Rashtrapati
Bhawan as their representative.”
At a time when the Opposition
is busy heaping blame on lynching deaths on the Government, the Party can blunt
its attack of being anti-Dalit by touting Kovind's example. Alongside the
President can help the Saffron brigade cut its losses by raising his voice
against lynching, pitching for greater cohesion among the society. Specially, with
Mayawati looking to retrieve her Dalit votes, a MahaDalit in Raisina Hills may
go a long way for the BJP to keep the Hindu votes united, especially in the
politically sensitive and critical state of UP.
Of course, despite being an old Sangh hand
Kovind must keep equi-distance from his old cronies as the equation between the
Rashrapati and our jan sevaks is
based on mutual regard and respect which facilitates a healthy give and take.
That JD(U) Nitish Kumar broke opposition ranks to hoot for him underscores
Kovind has the ability to build confidences with those who hold diametrically
opposite political views and work in harmony.
The real acid test
for the new Rashtrpati would be to assert his Presidential authority on
Constitutional grey areas and issues having no precedent and exercising his
discretion. Towards that end his track record in Bihar will hold him in good
stead unlike other NDA Governors in Opposition ruled States who have had
numerable run-ins with the Chief Minister at the behest of their mai-baap
Centre. . How he handles all these will determine his place in history.
He needs to keep in
mind that 2017 is not the India of 1947, today the President’s role has become
critical, if the nation is not to be hijacked from its democratic and
Constitutional path. The challenge before Kovind will be to come across as
neutral and balanced certainly not an “activist” whenever the Opposition knocks
on its doors and never be swayed by his ideological background and Party.
Succinctly, take a conscience call.
This is not to
suggest that Kovind will stay silent on any transgressions if done by the BJP Sarkar given his fine record as Bihar
Governor, notwithstanding being part of the same ecosystem his actions should
be perceived as measured. Consequently,
he is unlikely to rock the boat without any pertinent reason.
In this 24X7 digital
age and competitive politics, Kovind will have to give all it takes to adhere
to the spirit of the Constitution, rather than its letter and acts as the
nation’s “conscience-keeper” along-with balancing the ever-growing inherent contradiction
within our polity. Address basic questions vital to the healthy growth of
India’s nascent democracy.
As the country’s
first citizen he will have to purge caste, creed, regional and linguistic
identities which dictated nominations. As President he enjoys vast powers yet
he must adhere to what Ambedkar called ‘Constitutional morality’ whereby he is
required to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution to the best of his
ability and not that of his Council of Ministers
Kovind would do well
to take a leaf out of India’s first President Rajendra Prasad’s book. The
President is empowered by established conventions to ask questions, delay
signing of any proclamation or other papers till the authorities satisfy him
fully. He could put pertinent questions
to the Centre before signing any document and demand full satisfaction. There
is no time limit for him.
Thus, as President
Kovind needs to be wholly Constitutional and yet act impartially, objectively
and independently. Among other things,
he could always exercise his judgment and ask for any decision to be
reconsidered by the Government Constitutionally, he could even go to Parliament
and also seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on any issue of basic
importance.
All in all, he can
serve the country faithfully only so long as he functions independently and
have the guts to speak his mind out on matters that concern the aam aadmi. He should and not hesitate to
send Bills back to the Cabinet for reconsideration, in case of disagreement in
the best national interest.
Given the all-round
public cynicism about our netas and
the continued erosion of Constitutional institutions, it is vital Kovind
redefines the Presidency. India needs a President who would act as the check
point for the ruling Government not as a rubber stamp.
Recall, Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote:
public opinion everything. With public sentiment nothing can fail. Without it,
nothing can succeed. Consequently, he who moulds public opinion goes deeper
than he who enacts statues or pronounces decision.” How he achieves this will make or mar his
bequest. ---- INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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