Pranab Mukherjee and the Future of Indian Politics

Bangalore: While Pranab Mukherjee is in the presidential race, it already seems like he has a clear win. The way Pranab has been able to sew up his election as the next President of India says a lot about the nature of politics that will likely run the country over the next several years. With this kind of politics in control, is there a rational chance that India will be run better than it has been in the last few years? Pranab’s clear and impressive victory in the presidential poll will in no way reverse the noticeable decline of the Congress, says Subir Roy for Rediff.

Mukherjee has been able to gather support way beyond the remit of the Congress. Further, major regional leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Bal Thackeray and Nitish Kumar  have all switched sides to back him. Significantly, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav too has declared that the ruling United Progressive Alliance has little future.

So what has been an advantage for Mukherjee? He is well known to be friendly among colleagues and party people and has over decades developed good personal relations across party lines. He knows how to do a favor and, in time how to encash the goodwill stored up. Further, he has been Union finance minister twice, with the tax administration under him, which gives him an added advantage.