Is Yashwant Sinha a Good Choice for Opposition’s Presidential Candidate?
In the ongoing Indian presidential election, Yashwant Sinha has emerged as the unanimous choice of the opposition parties. However, the question arises: is he a good fit for the role?
No Chance at Day One
Before delving into the merits and demerits of Yashwant Sinha's candidacy, it is crucial to understand the early odds. From the outset, Sinha's selection was more symbolic than substantive. He represented the opposition’s inability to secure a more qualified and promising candidate from either within or outside their ranks.
A Symbolic Fight
/callbacks?Sinha's run in the presidential race can be characterized as a symbolic effort. Despite previous successes, such as playing vital roles in the standing and strengthening of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, and Murali Manohar Joshi, he could not even gather the votes he should have. This reflects the inherent challenges faced by the opposition in garnering public support or genuine enthusiasm for their presidential candidate.
Historical Context in Indian Politics
A historical fact in Indian politics is that the incumbent ruling party's candidate always wins the presidential election. The role of the President of India is extensive, encompassing responsibilities such as being the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, the ability to declare war or conclude peace with advice from the Union Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister, and the authority to sign all important treaties and contracts.
Given this context, it is clear that ruling parties prefer candidates highly amenable to their wants and needs, ones that cannot challenge their authority or undermine the constitution. Yashwant Sinha, though a notable figure, has not been nominated by the ruling party, which makes it highly unlikely for him to win.
Why the Opposition Chose Yashwant Sinha
Initially, the opposition parties approached more prominent figures, such as Sharad Pawar or Gopal Krishna Gandhi. However, these individuals recognized the futility of the effort due to the overwhelming likelihood of a ruling party candidate winning. They declined the proposal, understanding that they would lose the election regardless.
Ultimately, the opposition parties found themselves with no viable alternative. Enter Mamata Banerjee, who, like others, knows the political landscape too well to believe that Sinha could win. Instead, she used him as a placeholder, a figure who would willingly participate in the election for a price. This includes expenses for travel, meetings with state chief ministers, and some level of publicity.
Sinha: The Shadow Boxer
Yashwant Sinha agrees to the election as a so-called 'dummy', much like a fight scene where the audience sees the hero but not the duplicate. In reality, Sinha serves as a figurehead, gaining some benefits like travel and publicity, but without the genuine chance of winning. People perceive this as a form of symbolic engagement, akin to shadow boxing, where one participates not to win but to gesture and fulfill a role.
Conclusion
While Yashwant Sinha may be a nod to the importance of representation and participation in the democracy of India, the underlying reality suggests that his candidacy might be more about symbolic gestures and media coverage for the opposition parties.