President Pranab Mukherjee’s term ends on July 25. The race for Raisina Hill is on. The NDA has a strong position and whatever shortfall there is may be filled up by the AIADMK. But if the Opposition can close its ranks, the NDA may be up against it. Congress President Sonia Gandhi is at the forefront of the Opposition to arrive at a consensus. She has approached leaders of SP, RJD, NC, NCP, CPM, CPI, JD(U), and JD(S). She will perhaps rope in TMC, BSP, DMK and RJD. But regional leaders may in the event plump for a non-Congress President. But they have till now no candidate they may support. Representatives of 9 political parties met in New Delhi to mark the 90th birth anniversary of socialist leader Madhu Limaye on May Day. There was a general feeling that the Presidential election would be a crucial event. The BJP riding to victory, it was felt, would be fatalistic.
As for the BJP, the long standing contender to be the First Citizen L.K. Advani now finds himself on a sticky wicket. The Supreme Court has revived charges against him for criminal involvement in the demolition of the Babri Mosque. His self defence before the Lieberman Commission did not put him in a favourable light. The BJP may instead put up Sumita Mahajan or Sushma Swaraj. But that will be putting the active Swaraj to pasture. Everyone is thinking that the BJP may spring a surprise by putting up an outsider. In any event Raisina Hill is not the seed of power
