As a former Prime Minister, I am deeply disturbed and saddened over the manner in which a Tamasha is being made out of the dignity of the esteemed Constitutional Office of the President of India over the past few days by all the three key principal players – the UPA, NDA and the UNPA. I am forced to break my silence as I firmly believe that the election of the President of India, the first citizen of the country, is in fact a celebration of our nationhood. Irrespective of gender, caste, region, religion and political background, the President has to be a person every Indian is proud of. It is an office adorned by stalwarts such as Dr Rajendra Prasad and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Outgoing President A P J Abdul Kalam too exemplified this during his five year tenure.

Though from a political background over which I too have my strong reservations, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat equally conducted himself with the dignity, stature and impartiality associated with the exalted offices of both the Hon’ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Vice-President of India.

Unfortunately, the conduct of all the three political formations have made both these personalities, whom Indians are proud of, vulnerable.

The manner in which the UPA sought to make the office of the President a tool in power politics was as demeaning as the way in which the other two alliances sought to drag the names of both Shri Kalam and Shri Shekhawat in the race for Presidency.

As the first citizen of the world’s largest democracy, the President should not be seen as a tool in the hands of any political party. While the Constitution itself provides for a contest in the absence of a consensus, any confrontation should be avoided at all costs. The decorum and dignity of the highest office of the land should find reflection in the Presidential elections as well.