UPA-Left appeal to electorate to vote for Pratibha

New Delhi, July 3: Denouncing the BJP's 'smear' campaign against their Presidential candidate, the UPA and Left leaders today formally appealed to the electoral college to rise above narrow considerations and vote for Pratibha Patil in consonance with the highest traditions of democracy.

"We strongly condemn the nature and tenor of the current campaign which cannot but dilute the norms that must form part of our political process, being a mature democracy," a statement signed by the UPA-Left leaders said.

A day after the scrutiny of nominations for the July 19 election, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and others regretted that the presidential debate had been reduced to the lowest level by the BJP which is supporting "independent" candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

"We appeal to the entire electoral college to rise above narrow considerations, uphold the dignity of the electoral process... and vote for Ms Pratibha Patil, the candidate of UPA, supported by the Left, BSP and other parties," said the statement, read out by Mr Mukherjee at at a joint press conference.

The statement was signed by Mr Mukherjee, Sharad Pawar (NCP), Lalu Prasad (RJD), T R Baalu (DMK), Ramvilas Paswan (LJP), E Ahamed (IUML), E Ponnuswamy (PMK), Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M).

Among those present at the press conference were HRD Minister Arjun Singh and Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

Mr Mukherjee said the UPA had not unleashed any frivolous campaign against Mr Shekhawat though he had not resigned the post of Vice-President to contest the Presidential election.

In this context, he pointed out that former Vice-Presidents R Venkataraman, K R Narayanan and Shankar Dayal Sharma had become Preidents without a contest. However, in the case of Mr V V Giri, there was a contest but he resigned as Vice President before filing his nominations for Presidential election.

Referring to BJP leader L K Advani's recent statement asking the party leaders to make the voters aware of "major issues" in the presidential election, Mr Mukherjee said the election to the post of President was never fought on issues since India became Republic.

"Is there any scope for a debate on issues to elect an executive President just because the BJP is unleashing a smear campaign against Ms Patil," he asked.

"In India, the election to the office of President is indirect...

The process is qualitatively different from that of election of representatives in a Parliamentary democracy," Mr Mukherjee said, adding that the issues that arise in the course of such an election to Parliament or a State assembly are not the issues that are or ought to be raised in the Presidential election.

Pointing out that the election campaign for the post in the past had been marked by decor and dignity, he said this was found absent in the present campaign due to the BJP's attitude towards the institutions of democracy. Mr Dasmunsi said the Presidential election was an important event in the nation's constitutional process and a certain sanctity was attached to it. He accused the BJP of destroying the very sanctity of the constitutional process through a smear campaign based on frivolous and unfounded allegations against Ms Patil.

Mr Mukherjee came down heavily on Mr Advani for his comment that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was handpicked by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and was not being a llowed to exercise powers of his own.

In this context, he said Dr Singh was not an unknown person when he became the country's premier. He was never handpicked, but was unanimously elected by the Congress Parliamentary Party. He was a successful Finance Minister of the country for five years and was also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

"He has been effectively managing the role of Prime Minister." Referring to the BJP's appeal for conscience vote, Mr Mukherjee said the electoral college consisted of only elected representatives of Parliament and the State assemblies and they would always vote according to the desire of the party on whose ticket they had won their seats.

''Therefore there is always a conscience vote,'' he added.

Asked what was wrong in Ms Patil making a suo motu declaration of her assets, as demanded by the BJP, he said since there was no provision for it, why should she do it, and before whom.

"Is the declaration to enhance the general knowledge of the journalists?" he asked.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad said the country would have the first woman President on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Independence.

UNI

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