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Presidential poll

This refers to the report “BJP seeks fresh guidelines” (July 3). There is no doubt that the BJP is indulging in cheap tricks to somehow disqualify the UPA presidential nominee, Pratibha Patil, from contesting the election. But at the same time, it is true that all candidates contesting the presidential election should be transparent in disclosing their assets as the people have every right to know about their leaders.

Nagesh Belapure,
Secunderabad

* * *

The BJP’s no-holds-barred attempt at besmirching Ms. Patil’s name has resulted in scandalising the whole election process and reducing the august office of President to the lowest level possible. It appears that its sustained vilification campaign against Ms. Patil is aimed at discrediting the parliamentary form of governance in the eyes of the people. It will surely open the floodgates of acrimony and provide the ‘moral’ licence to smaller parties to openly practise politics of slander and vilification against their opponents.

Shahabuddin Nadeem,
Bangalore

* * *

Instead of pointing out that the BJP did not make a demand for the disclosure of assets by the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in 2002, the Congress should clear the air with respect to Ms. Patil.

Goutam Ram,
Tiruchi

* * *

The NDA and the UPA have both levelled serious, though unproven, charges against the candidate put up by the rival political combine. Some of the mud thrown at the candidates will stick and the winner will carry that burden to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Our parties should ponder over the manner in which they have botched up the process of electing the head of the nation.

K. Vijayakumar,
Bangalore

* * *

The controversies surrounding Ms. Patil should be cleared before the election. The UPA should make a formal statement clearing her name as the people are confused by the spate of allegations made against her by the opposition. It would be disastrous if an allegation is found to be true after she is elected President.

B. Jayanna Krupakar,
Bellary

* * *

Ms. Patil has termed the charges against her baseless. It is unprecedented for a presidential candidate to face such serious charges. While her denial of the charges is welcome, it is not possible for the people to dismiss the stories appearing in the media as baseless. If she is innocent, she should file criminal defamation suits against the media and the opposition leaders who have maligned her.

V.E. Venkataramani,

Chennai

* * *

We expect the President of India to be impartial, non-controversial, fairly well known, and well versed with the provisions of the Constitution. But the conflict between the UPA and the NDA over the candidature of Ms. Patil offers little hope.

Some allegations against Ms. Patil are serious. One cannot but conclude that it is difficult to find a candidate of a high stature from among our political parties.

Gp. Capt. N. Neelakantan (retd.),
Bangalore

* * *

Never before has the presidential campaign assumed such vicious and unhealthy overtones that will put to shame even panchayat elections. It is the inadequate stature of the candidates and the baggage they carry that have led to the present state of affairs.

J.V. Reddy,
Nellore

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