Apropos of your cover story, The August Question (Apr 30), isn’t it ironical that the top post in the world’s largest democracy is a topic of political strategies, votebank posturing, cheap intra- and inter-party games rather than an offering to the most deserving, capable, respected person? Look at the list of presidents we had. The first three (Rajendra Prasad, Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and Zakir Hussain) were eminent Indians and well deserved the post. After this, the decay started. All we had were political appointees who were loyal to the ‘first family’ and served their interests well. Except for one, Dr A.P.J. Kalam. He was among the best presidents India has had and his five-year term was an honourable one. Thanks to Sonia Gandhi’s imperious fiat, he was not offered a second term and instead we got a president whose credentials were dubious and track record a laughing stock.

Ravi, on e-mail

Whether political or apolitical, what we need is a right-thinking candidate—like N.R. Narayana Murthy or the tried and tested Abdul Kalam. Parties must not involve the new incumbent in the cesspool of political bickering and tarnish the image of the presidency.

K.C. Kumar, Bangalore

I hope Dr Kalam and Mr Ansari will decline the invitation to become president because time and again it is repeated that they qualify because of their Muslim faith. Is this any way to start a new term?

Arun, Indore

Who do we want as president of India? Someone of impeccable character, who is not a politician, is sagacious, mature, secular, articulate, personable, well-educated and experienced in governance with a thorough knowledge of constitutional matters. No one fits this description better than Gopal Gandhi who, as president, would certainly do the nation proud. And Tara Gandhi would be the perfect first lady—representing in her person the best and most cherished of Indian values.

Anjolie Ela Menon, on e-mail

RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav’s suggestion for the elevation of Hamid Ansari is a sensible one. Suave and literate, he scarcely put a foot wrong as vice-president—except, of course, during that midnight mayhem in the Rajya Sabha.

K.P. Rajan, Mumbai

In all likelihood, it will be Pranab Mukherjee who gets sworn in by August 2012. Barring a minor discrepancy, the veteran has always been a loyal soldier of the Gandhis and the Congress party.

Venkatesh G. Iyer, Chennai

Will anyone remember that the country ever had a president by the name Pratibha Patil after July 2012? If at all she is remembered, it will be for the Rs 205 cr holiday trips with family to foreign lands.

Gilbert D’Souza, Bangalore

The office of president is ceremonial and must go to a person deemed an ornament of India. Dr Kalam is the best choice.

J.N. Bhartiya, Hyderabad

In the debate on the next president, one issue shouldn’t be lost sight of—26/11 accused Kasab’s mercy petition will come up before the next prez. Closure for all of us will only happen with his hanging. A president who gives Kasab another five years of chicken biriyani at state expense has no place in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

C.A. Chaly, Kochi

Dr Karan Singh, who missed out on the coveted post earlier due to comrade Prakash Karat’s objections, is the best choice. A scholar, a patriot and acceptable to all. If not him, Pranabda is the next best choice. This is the last chance for him. He should quit the Congress if he’s not offered the post.

K.R. Rao, Vijayawada

A non-political person would be the right choice for President of India. All the candidates whose names have been floated should be dropped.

S.K. Jha, Darbhanga

Really, how does it matter who the president is in our country? You might as well have a Tendulkar or a Salman Khan. I’m sure they will do better than some of the jokers we’ve had in the past. PS: Why not Ratan Tata, a dignified candidate for the high office?

Ravi Bedi, Jodhpur

Please sign this online petition to support Sachin for President of India.

http://www.change.org/petitions/prime-minister-of-india-sachin-tendulkar-as-next-president-of-india?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=autopublish

Waiting for the new president as early as possible, who ever he/she is. The present one has been an apology for the post; I wonder how ' those there ' selected the most uncharismatic and unimpressive among indians as the country's president.Besides being so, activities of her immediate  family members in Marathawada area and now what is going on in Pune Cantt make her a pathetic head of the nation.

 I request both Mr Abdul Kalam and Hamid Ansari to decline the invitation of becoming the President of Inda because the only qualification that has been time and again being given is theirs being of Muslim faith. I am sure that they can also see the machination of politicians and they must resist the effort of these pseudo secularists. 

The next President will have to oversee the Parliamentary elections in 2014, whose outcome is most likely to be a hung parliament. This would make the office of the President and his/her knowledge of the Constitution extremely crucial. The choice of President should be made keeping this very important issue in mind. The President will also have to be politically unbiased and mature, to deal effectively with all the horse-tradng that will undoubtedly ensue. Is there such a candidate anywhere, and more importantly will our current government rise above parochialism and self-interest to elect such a person?

Congress (Indira) is now called the Congress. It will sound better if it calls itself Congress (G)! Ever since, its nominees elected were definitely NO way better thanothers who became Presidents. By no stretch of imagination, there can be any comparision between her and Kalam.

Can any one educate me as to what is her contribution to the nation? - except making her post retiement life comfortable in Pune!  Abdul Kalam, who is simple, highly educated with a robust contribution to the country in his field. Most important is that he truly a Non-Politician!

If Mulayam Singh Ji becomes President - then India will get first time a WRESTLER AS PRESIDENT OF INDIA - apart from his political accumen - jai Ho !!!

Even better if Porn Star Sunny Leone who has recently acquired Indian citizenship is nominated for the coveted post by porn surfing and sex maniac politicians!!!

Only a respected person should be elected to the office of the President of India. 

Persons who proved themselves repeatedly partisan and patently unfair even on camera should not be allowed to sully the high office. Corrupt politicians will certainly try to promote any person less graceful than themselves for personal gain, but the wiser elements among the electoral college will do their national duty by stalling any such attempts at subversion of the clean elections and clean persons.  The corrupt politicians have to be sent to the jail immediately so that they don't corrupt the process of electing the President.

Sam Pitroda

Dr Karan Singh who lost the Coveted Post due to Comrade Prakash Karat is the best chocie for the Presidentship.of India. A Schloar,a  Great Patriot and also accaptable to all.Even BJP and Shivasena will not object for his candidature.If not Pranab Mukharjee is the best Choice. This is the last chance for him. He must use all his powers.. If he is not offered the Presidnetship it will be beneath his personal dignity and self respect at this age of his.He should quit the Congress in such a circumastance.

 In my view non-political person should be the right choice for President of India like S.Radhakrishnan.All the candidates whose name has been floated should be left behind.

Sonia Gandhi should make Anna Hazare the President. This will not only take the wind out of the sails of his movement, something her government badly wants, but will also enhance the reputation of the Congress party as an entity which rewards even its detractors.

It is sickening to see the political parties engaging in such undignified antics to try to secure a president from among their own ranks.  The post of President of India is not the same as that of France or the US. The President of India is a constitutional head of state who is supposed to be above and beyond politics, more akin to the Queen of England.  The politicians should understand that they are undermining and betraying the spirit of the constitution by this unseemly jostling for influence.  The last time it happened it led to the appointment of an undeserving Congress lackey who has demeaned the post of president.  We do not want the same thing to happen again.  The politicians should lay off and allow the president to be chosen by national consensus.

I may suggest Nirmal Baba's name for the coveted post since his "third eye" would help eliminate the entire economic hardships of the country as the Baba's "kripa" will shower on our finance minister for the nation's prosperity ! 

Due to shrinked electoral college strength, neither the Congress nor the BJP can push through their nominee without the support from allies. And since the regional parties wield the deciding key, it won't be surprising if an absolutely stranger name emerges in the election fray. All said and done, in the present political scenario, an incumbent's talent does not merit any consideration- what matters is his affiliation, sincerity, flexibility and obedience to a certain party/group of parties.    

The President's job is to look dignified and do absolutely nothing of political import.

I strongly feel that the man for the job is: Amitabh Bachchan.  Universally popular (except in Lavasa).  Well known.  Dignified (except for that silly TV show.)  Amitabhji is the man for the job.

Online petition?

 Soniaji's was no tyag (sacrifice). It is said that she was asked by the President in 2004

 "why you are keeping two passports." Further there was a concern about reciprocity principle. President Fujimori of PERU escaped to Tokyo after he was charged. He was enjoying the citizenship of both the countries.The defence chiefs also had some hiccup which were conveyed to the President who being  the head of armed forces.

  During 1998,Soniaji was asked  By late Sri Arjun Singh to visit President K R Narayanan (a diehard friend of Nehru-Gandhi family) with a list of 274 MPs. At that time her plan was scuttled by Sri Mulayam Singh and elections were called.

 In the kingdom of Congress, loyalty is euphemism for family servility. This ruling dispensation has the hallmark of dictatorial instincts and subverting the national institutions.No single party has communalised the political scene as much as INC.

Over the coming years, the role of a section of the media,JNU and leftwing demogogues, the bureaucracy &c will become an exciting topic for discussion in the public domain.

>> Kalam may have asked Sonia to withdraw herself from consideration for Prime Ministership

Is that so? These stories have been doing the rounds, but I thought Kalam said he had never done so.

If he did do so indeed, Sonia's "tyaag" was certainly not so. All the scumbags who were idolizing her as "tyaag ki murti" should apologize.

Saba makes the Presidency seem more substantial a position than it is. For example how much leeway does the President really have on who to call to form the government after a general election? Kalam may have asked Sonia to withdraw herself from consideration for Prime Ministership, but he was speaking for the Vajpayee government and other voices in the country.  He could not possibly have done so on his own.

What will Pratibha Patil be remembered for? Actually that's is bad question! She will not be remembered at all. How has Hamid Ansari distinguished himself as a vice president ? Eeeh ! nothing really comes to mind. How do they compare with APJ ? Bad question again! They  can not even be mentioned in the same breath together. India deserves a president of the stature of APJ . Let us not diminish this post by getting another lightweight who will go on to work less as the President of  India and more as a regent . We need a doorkeeper of the constitution not a doormat.

Bearded Zakir Hussian stopped Diwali illuminations of Rastrapathi Bhawan during his presidency.If the bearded Ansari makes it to the Rastrapathi Bhawan,he may follow suit.

 Only the candidate of UPA selected by sonia will get elected.The pet dogs of congress SP,DMK,RJD,BSP will happily play ball while naveen,mamtha,jaya,naidu will be amde to look like fools

 “I don’t know why we don’t keep only one-line ‘ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA’ for the Candidature of President’s Office “SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT REMOTE!”

What?

No woman?

Hamid Ansari is another servant of the family just like Pratibha Patil - only slightly better educated so his servility is a little better disguised.

He is the most likely candidate from the family. He meets the ususal criteria.

Agreed - it really doesn't matter. But hopefully we will find a "suitable candidate" - one who likely maintains dignity of the office and caste, region, religion considerations only after that. I would, however, like a President who cuts down Presidential waste and also moves to 4-5 Governors - one per region rather than by State.

Does it matter?

I think this time president will be appointed by chief ministers of opposition parties.They started  their meeting, consulting  .Let us see  they will select candidate  with help of Congress or BJP?

cannot ( canot )

Of the many fine qualities of head and heart a President should possess, use of personal discretion in inviting someone to form the government canot be one. Very often, as in 2009, the contingency does not arise. Even if it does, there is always the Constitution and one's conscience.

 Hope Hamid Ansari gets elected as our next President.

Get rid of all stooges and bring back our ' PEPOLE'S PRESIDENT'. Let us be wise, not to have a rubber-stamp President rubber stamp

""WELCOME BACK APJ""

Get rid of all stooges and bring back our ' PEPOLE'S PRESIDENT'. Let us be wise, not to have a rubber-stamp President rubber stamp

""WELCOME BACK APJ""

 Hope Hamid Ansari gets elected as our next President.

Of the many fine qualities of head and heart a President should possess, use of personal discretion in inviting someone to form the government canot be one. Very often, as in 2009, the contingency does not arise. Even if it does, there is always the Constitution and one's conscience.

cannot ( canot )

I think this time president will be appointed by chief ministers of opposition parties.They started  their meeting, consulting  .Let us see  they will select candidate  with help of Congress or BJP?

Does it matter?

Agreed - it really doesn't matter. But hopefully we will find a "suitable candidate" - one who likely maintains dignity of the office and caste, region, religion considerations only after that. I would, however, like a President who cuts down Presidential waste and also moves to 4-5 Governors - one per region rather than by State.

Hamid Ansari is another servant of the family just like Pratibha Patil - only slightly better educated so his servility is a little better disguised.

He is the most likely candidate from the family. He meets the ususal criteria.

What?

No woman?

 “I don’t know why we don’t keep only one-line ‘ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA’ for the Candidature of President’s Office “SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT REMOTE!”

 Only the candidate of UPA selected by sonia will get elected.The pet dogs of congress SP,DMK,RJD,BSP will happily play ball while naveen,mamtha,jaya,naidu will be amde to look like fools

Bearded Zakir Hussian stopped Diwali illuminations of Rastrapathi Bhawan during his presidency.If the bearded Ansari makes it to the Rastrapathi Bhawan,he may follow suit.

What will Pratibha Patil be remembered for? Actually that's is bad question! She will not be remembered at all. How has Hamid Ansari distinguished himself as a vice president ? Eeeh ! nothing really comes to mind. How do they compare with APJ ? Bad question again! They  can not even be mentioned in the same breath together. India deserves a president of the stature of APJ . Let us not diminish this post by getting another lightweight who will go on to work less as the President of  India and more as a regent . We need a doorkeeper of the constitution not a doormat.

Saba makes the Presidency seem more substantial a position than it is. For example how much leeway does the President really have on who to call to form the government after a general election? Kalam may have asked Sonia to withdraw herself from consideration for Prime Ministership, but he was speaking for the Vajpayee government and other voices in the country.  He could not possibly have done so on his own.

>> Kalam may have asked Sonia to withdraw herself from consideration for Prime Ministership

Is that so? These stories have been doing the rounds, but I thought Kalam said he had never done so.

If he did do so indeed, Sonia's "tyaag" was certainly not so. All the scumbags who were idolizing her as "tyaag ki murti" should apologize.

 Soniaji's was no tyag (sacrifice). It is said that she was asked by the President in 2004

 "why you are keeping two passports." Further there was a concern about reciprocity principle. President Fujimori of PERU escaped to Tokyo after he was charged. He was enjoying the citizenship of both the countries.The defence chiefs also had some hiccup which were conveyed to the President who being  the head of armed forces.

  During 1998,Soniaji was asked  By late Sri Arjun Singh to visit President K R Narayanan (a diehard friend of Nehru-Gandhi family) with a list of 274 MPs. At that time her plan was scuttled by Sri Mulayam Singh and elections were called.

 In the kingdom of Congress, loyalty is euphemism for family servility. This ruling dispensation has the hallmark of dictatorial instincts and subverting the national institutions.No single party has communalised the political scene as much as INC.

Over the coming years, the role of a section of the media,JNU and leftwing demogogues, the bureaucracy &c will become an exciting topic for discussion in the public domain.

The President's job is to look dignified and do absolutely nothing of political import.

I strongly feel that the man for the job is: Amitabh Bachchan.  Universally popular (except in Lavasa).  Well known.  Dignified (except for that silly TV show.)  Amitabhji is the man for the job.

Online petition?

Due to shrinked electoral college strength, neither the Congress nor the BJP can push through their nominee without the support from allies. And since the regional parties wield the deciding key, it won't be surprising if an absolutely stranger name emerges in the election fray. All said and done, in the present political scenario, an incumbent's talent does not merit any consideration- what matters is his affiliation, sincerity, flexibility and obedience to a certain party/group of parties.    

I may suggest Nirmal Baba's name for the coveted post since his "third eye" would help eliminate the entire economic hardships of the country as the Baba's "kripa" will shower on our finance minister for the nation's prosperity ! 

It is sickening to see the political parties engaging in such undignified antics to try to secure a president from among their own ranks.  The post of President of India is not the same as that of France or the US. The President of India is a constitutional head of state who is supposed to be above and beyond politics, more akin to the Queen of England.  The politicians should understand that they are undermining and betraying the spirit of the constitution by this unseemly jostling for influence.  The last time it happened it led to the appointment of an undeserving Congress lackey who has demeaned the post of president.  We do not want the same thing to happen again.  The politicians should lay off and allow the president to be chosen by national consensus.

Sonia Gandhi should make Anna Hazare the President. This will not only take the wind out of the sails of his movement, something her government badly wants, but will also enhance the reputation of the Congress party as an entity which rewards even its detractors.

 In my view non-political person should be the right choice for President of India like S.Radhakrishnan.All the candidates whose name has been floated should be left behind.

Dr Karan Singh who lost the Coveted Post due to Comrade Prakash Karat is the best chocie for the Presidentship.of India. A Schloar,a  Great Patriot and also accaptable to all.Even BJP and Shivasena will not object for his candidature.If not Pranab Mukharjee is the best Choice. This is the last chance for him. He must use all his powers.. If he is not offered the Presidnetship it will be beneath his personal dignity and self respect at this age of his.He should quit the Congress in such a circumastance.

Sam Pitroda

Only a respected person should be elected to the office of the President of India. 

Persons who proved themselves repeatedly partisan and patently unfair even on camera should not be allowed to sully the high office. Corrupt politicians will certainly try to promote any person less graceful than themselves for personal gain, but the wiser elements among the electoral college will do their national duty by stalling any such attempts at subversion of the clean elections and clean persons.  The corrupt politicians have to be sent to the jail immediately so that they don't corrupt the process of electing the President.

If Mulayam Singh Ji becomes President - then India will get first time a WRESTLER AS PRESIDENT OF INDIA - apart from his political accumen - jai Ho !!!

Even better if Porn Star Sunny Leone who has recently acquired Indian citizenship is nominated for the coveted post by porn surfing and sex maniac politicians!!!

Congress (Indira) is now called the Congress. It will sound better if it calls itself Congress (G)! Ever since, its nominees elected were definitely NO way better thanothers who became Presidents. By no stretch of imagination, there can be any comparision between her and Kalam.

Can any one educate me as to what is her contribution to the nation? - except making her post retiement life comfortable in Pune!  Abdul Kalam, who is simple, highly educated with a robust contribution to the country in his field. Most important is that he truly a Non-Politician!

The next President will have to oversee the Parliamentary elections in 2014, whose outcome is most likely to be a hung parliament. This would make the office of the President and his/her knowledge of the Constitution extremely crucial. The choice of President should be made keeping this very important issue in mind. The President will also have to be politically unbiased and mature, to deal effectively with all the horse-tradng that will undoubtedly ensue. Is there such a candidate anywhere, and more importantly will our current government rise above parochialism and self-interest to elect such a person?

 I request both Mr Abdul Kalam and Hamid Ansari to decline the invitation of becoming the President of Inda because the only qualification that has been time and again being given is theirs being of Muslim faith. I am sure that they can also see the machination of politicians and they must resist the effort of these pseudo secularists. 

Waiting for the new president as early as possible, who ever he/she is. The present one has been an apology for the post; I wonder how ' those there ' selected the most uncharismatic and unimpressive among indians as the country's president.Besides being so, activities of her immediate  family members in Marathawada area and now what is going on in Pune Cantt make her a pathetic head of the nation.

Please sign this online petition to support Sachin for President of India.

http://www.change.org/petitions/prime-minister-of-india-sachin-tendulkar-as-next-president-of-india?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=autopublish