CONTENDERS AND PRETENDERS
With the Elections have been declared for our Parliament, there are many contenders to the post of Prime Ministers and a handful of pretenders as well. Congress Party has chosen to keep its choice up in its sleeve although they have said Dr.Manmohan singh is the candidate. BJP has already declared Lal Krishna Advani as thier aspirant to the coveted post. Apart from these probable PM s there are a plethora of candidates who aspire to occupy the chair under fortuitous circumstances which is led by Kumari Mayawati, Sharad Pawar, Lallu Yadav, J Jayalalitha and the one time PM Devegowda. Mayawati has distanced herself from the pretensions called third front and decided to fight it alone. She stands a fair chance if no pary gets more than 200 seats and she manages to get 50 odd seats. She may be propped up the Third alternative or even BJP could be willing to support her. Jayalalitha who is having an active band of supporters among the third front dreams that she is able to beat a powerful Congress-DMK alliance in Tamilnadu her humiliating defeat in Thirumangalam Bye election not withstanding. Her calculations are that if she manages to get 25 seats, she could overpower other aspirants like Sharad Pawar and Lalu and become unanimous choice. This is far fetched dream. Lalu believes he could be a compromise candidate if Congress does not get a chance to form a Government. It could probably happen if Sonia decides time is not ripe for Rahul to adorn the chair. Other than Dr.Singh, Sonia does not trust any one not even AK Antony her closest confident as of now. But the case of Sharad Pawar is serious. This man could be the dark horse because he has friends cutting across party lines. He could either be a Hindutva mascot or a secular warlord depending upon whether it is BJP or Congress who sniff at this chance of forming a Government not on their own but have a chance to nominate a PM. Already he has annouced that Maharashtrians would prefer a Maratha to become PM after Gujarathi and Kannadiga PMs. Shiv Sena has already irked BJP by showing its preference to Pawar. The only consolation for us is that Sonia has a deep distrust for him and should Congress emerge single largest party, she will do anything to block his way. similarly, LK Advani and Rajnath Singh also could upset his dream for his tirades against BJP in the past,. Assuming that Pawar gets about 20 seats and Shivsena another 20 ( even though Pawar fights this election under an alliance with Congress he is sure to sabotage Congress chances) Pawar could be close to his dream. At that time, probably his old friend Jayalalitha could reconcile to his becoming PM if she also has support of some 20 odd MPS.But others in the Third front may not support him Remember Left line during the days of United front. No Moopanar, left had said for his perceived proximity to 10 janpath. It is well known that Karunanidhi played spoilsport then through his nephew Murasoli Maran who used this opportnity to propose less known Inder Kumar Gujral. But it is for the people to decide whether it is safe for us to have Pawar as PM. Even though it is highly unlikely now, given Pawar's influence , his dexerity to manipulate, people shound not vote for his NCP so that his dreams remain only remains atleast for now. We have more capable contenders now.
|
|
