Always number two, eternal challenger to the prime ministerial candidate of the grand old party, but never got the coveted and well-deserved post. But, now, Congress's Man Friday Pranab Mukherjee is all set to become the primus among (non-) equals. Mukherjee has quit as the finance minister of the country to contest the presidential poll scheduled for July 19. He is only the second serving union cabinet minister to have been nominated as a candidate for the presidential poll.
His candidature has not been free from controversies, with many saying that the government and the party are not on the same page. And, perhaps to clear the cloud Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to be one of the two proposers for Mukherjee for filing his nomination on Thursday for the election to President's office.
The Prime Minister's decision is a marked departure from the normal practice, which itself indicates that there were some differences of opinion on doing away with UPA's go-to man in past 8 years. But, then Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav had left Congress with no other option.
On Pranab Mukherjee's part, he is someone, who has always been in the thick of things for over four decades, his nomination for the presidential polls indicate that his retirement from active electoral/ministerial politics is not really a retirement from politics. The office of the President is very much political. But, what remains to be seen and what would be a litmus test for Pranab, the person-politician is whether he adheres to Congress's philosophy or follows an independent political philosophy.
Pranab Mukherjee has vacated the finance ministry at a time, when the country is passing through a very rough economic phase. Industrial production is down, services hit badly, agriculture is partly good and mood is gloomy on the back of Eurozone crisis. But, given the policy paralysis that has afflicted this government especially the finance ministry for three years now, many view Pranab's timely elevation as relief rather than a problem.
Pranab's apparent attempt to seek solution of capitalist economy's problem through socialist approach was not going down well with the India Inc, which had started feeling that under his supervision, the economy was again drifting into the hands of bureaucrats. So, the reformists are happy that Pranab Mukherjee will now behold an office that does not interfere with Indian economy.
Earlier in the day, Pranab's much anticipated bold measures had given a hope to the markets. But, his promised investors' confidence booster turned out to be a thud as he held out just a few small tweaks on his last day as the finance minister. However, a rational analysis would suggest that the economic slump was not his fault. Though, he must share his part of blame as the finance minister. Notwithstanding, Mukherjee remains a stalwart of Indian politics and the most loved and trusted politician of the time.
Still, he may rue that he was widely acknowledged as the superb all rounder, who could never wear a captain's hat. But, becoming the first citizent of the country must make up more than the loss incurred by him during his political career.
