From CK Nayak
New Delhi: For the first time in the history of Meghalaya two of its prominent personalities – NCP supremo Purno Agitok Sangma and present Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary are in race for the President’s post interestingly on a common ground- both are tribals.
The inference both directly or indirectly propagate is that so far no tribal has ascended to the highest position of the country.
The previous occupants fall in any conceivable category- religion, caste, gender or even region.
There were presidents from all major religions, major castes and major regions including from North-East. But even after more than half a century of Independence no tribal has ever become President.
Sangma, who was already in the fray, on Tuesday met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms J Jayalalitha, a key player in the very important game.
The former Lok Sabha Speaker because of his stature has already made advances and met several key personalities of non-Congress parties including BJP.
Mooshahary, an UPA appointee, can not directly play his cards like Sangma but remains in the race because of his proximity to the ruling Congress.
The former director-general of the elite NSG and BSF received a boost when Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (ICITP), which represents 310 tribal organizations, proposed his name as President Pratibha Patil’s successor.
But the tribal groups, who are drumming up support for a Scheduled Tribe candidate, are yet to agree on a single name.
An ICITP delegation had met Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and proposed Mooshahary as the presidential candidate. Rahul Gandhi promised to discuss the proposal,” one ICITP office bearers told to the waiting media.
There are 53 tribal MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Several state assembles, who form a part of the electoral college, have a sizable ST members.
The Tribal Forum of India, comprising tribal leaders of various political parties, recently wrote to all MPs and political parties seeking support for a tribal candidate as the 13th President of India. Former Union minister and Congress leader Arvind Netam, who is heading the Forum, is in touch with senior leaders of all political parties and the MPs for their support.
If political parties agree to elect a tribal president, the Forum will present a panel of names. In the panel Purno and Mooshahary could be one of the probable candidates.
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil’s term ends in July 2012. Among other names that are doing the rounds are Union minister Pranab Mukherjee, vice president Hamid Ansari, defence minister AK Antony and former West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi.
