Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Woman President

The decision of the United Progressive Alliance and the Left parties to nominate Pratibha Devisingh Patil as the Presidential candidate is praiseworthy. As the candidate proposed by the ruling political combine, she is sure to win and become the first woman President of India. It is a matter of pride and honour for the nation in its 60th year of independence. That she has not been criticised even by her political foes is significant.

Jithin K. John,
Kayamkulam

* * *

Ms. Patil's election as President will be a major achievement in the history of women empowerment. All parties across the political spectrum should welcome her candidature.

Jetling Yellosa,
Warangal

* * *

It is a proud moment for the country that in all likelihood will soon have the first woman Supreme Commander of the armed forces. It is hoped that Ms. Patil will now switch her loyalty from the Congress to the people of India.

N. Nagarajan,
Chennai

* * *

It is a matter of pride that a non-controversial qualified woman is likely to occupy the post of President. While welcoming the UPA's move, one cannot but take note of the jarring noise made while arriving at a consensus between the UPA and the Left. Fortunately, there was no compromise on the stature and political wisdom of the candidate.

V. Krishnan,
Chennai

* * *

The credit for Ms. Patil's nomination goes to the Left parties that made the UPA discuss the issue of presidential nominee threadbare, and Sonia Gandhi who arrived at a conclusion to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Masooma Khaleel,
Ambur

* * *

Ms. Patil's nomination, it is hoped, will be a morale-booster for the protagonists of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures. The developments that necessitated a last-minute change in the name of the candidate clearly reflect the pulls and pressures under which the UPA Government functions.

P.V.N. Nambiar,
Naduvil, Kerala

* * *

The Left parties succeeded in resisting the bulldozing efforts of the ruling party and its allies to push their candidate. They made everyone think seriously on the issue, which led to the emergence of Ms. Patil as the contender. It is now for Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to display magnanimity and bow out of the race. His gesture will mark the grand finale in the 60th year of our independence.

Maj. Gen. (retd.) P.C. Reddy,
Secunderabad

* * *

It was only because the Left rejected the candidature of Shivraj Patil and Karan Singh that the Congress leadership suggested Ms. Patil's name. Hence, the Congress' claim that it has made a historic move is hollow and carries no conviction.

K. Murlidar,
Chennai

* * *

It was amusing to read Ms. Gandhi's claim that it would be a matter of great privilege to have a woman President in the 60th year of independence. Where was this realisation when the Congress proposed the other names? It was only after the Left rejected them that it thought of Ms. Patil.

K.R.A. Narasiah,
Chennai

* * *

This is not the first time that a woman would be contesting for the post of President. In 2002, Lakshmi Sehgal contested. Did the Congress then not realise that the election of a woman President would be historic? All these days, it hardly talked of a woman candidate. Only when the Left refused to go along, did it suggest the name of a woman.

R.P. Tripathy,
Berhampur

* * *

It is a good idea to make a woman the President of India. But leaders could have scrutinised a broader spectrum of women before announcing the candidate.

S. S. Kaddargi,
Gulbarga

* * *

Ms. Patil was not nominated because the Congress wanted to make a woman President for the first time in India. Hers was the only name acceptable to all parties.

A. Srikantaiah,
Bangalore

* * *

Ms. Patil is a long-time Congress loyalist. That she is Governor of a State where the opposition is in power is the result of her being a Congress member. Her gesture of thanking Ms. Gandhi for nominating her reinforces her loyalty. I am sure many people are for a non-partisan person occupying the office.

Krishna Kumar,
Ahmedabad

* * *

It is a pity that gender and caste played a significant role in determining the presidential candidate. Ms. Patil emerged only as a compromise candidate. We should perhaps have direct elections to the office of the President. That way, we do not have to settle for candidates whose names are finalised in political bargains.

Avuthu Srihari,
Secunderabad

* * *

The criticism that the Congress president has let down the party's stalwarts and succumbed to pressure from the Left parties is unfounded. There is nothing unusual in the selection process. No ruling party or combine would like to have a person who is close to the opposition as President. The Congress leadership had to compromise with other constituents to arrive at the name of a winnable candidate.

M. Muthukrishnan,
Bangalore

* * *

Whatever the factors that clinched the nomination in Ms. Patil's favour, the nation looks forward to a President who can rise above partisan politics, and place the interests of the nation above personal bonds. A rubber stamp President is the last thing the people want.

T.M. Premachandraan,
Madurai

* * *

Call it a political masterstroke or an attempt to assuage ruffled feelings, the UPA-Left combine's final presidential nominee is a `dark horse' political pundits had been speaking of.

J.S. Acharya,
Hyderabad

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