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Now that
a Swayamsevak is prime minister, there was a strong urge within the BJP
to have a "true blue" Sangh Parivar member as President. So
when the party began discussions for a presidential nominee, the name
of senior BJP leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon Singh
Shekhawat was regarded with some favour. After all, Shekhawat, with his
long experience in public life, fitted the bill as the next occupant of
Rashtrapati Bhavan. He also enjoyed a wide political acceptability outside
RSS circles. In fact, on occasion, the lanky Rajput has been at odds with
the Sangh, despite being in the fold since 1952.
Yet, Shekhawat's candidacy for President, BJP ministers admit, was a
bit of a non-starter. It would have been virtually impossible to evolve
a consensus with the Opposition. So the party may settle for the next
best thing-name Shekhawat as its candidate for vice-presidentship.
The BJP leadership is confident that TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu
will not demur on support to its candidate. The electoral college for
the vice-president is the combined strength of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya
Sabha. Not only does the NDA have a clear majority, but the BJP's tally
alone is 232 in the 775-member Parliament. The vice-president's office
is more than symbolic value because its occupant is also the chairman
of the Rajya Sabha. Apart from Shekhawat, the other names doing the rounds
are of the governors of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, Vishnu Kant Shastri
and Viren Shah.
Shastri is an old BJP hand and has managed to keep himself out of controversy,
unlike other governors. He has a laid-back, professorial image, tending
to rely on poetry when faced with a tricky question.
On the other hand, Shah has an urbane presence and the industrialist-he
has interests in steel-presents a polished image. Though he is not seen
as much of a saffron loyalist as Shekhawat and Shastri, he has backed
the BJP even when it was less than fashionable to do so in corporate circles.
Shah also enjoys political acceptance outside BJP circles.
-Rajeev Deshpande
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CURRENT
ISSUE JUNE 24, 2002
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