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| Congress party's battle is only half won | | |
BL KAK
NEW DELHI, JULY 20: With the formal anouncement of the outcome of the July 19 Presidential poll slated for Saturday afternoon, the governing Congress party, which is sure of the victory of Pratibha Patil, has begun preparations to organise a big event in her honour in the capital. The Congress was gung-ho after voting for the Presidential poll ended on July 19.
The United Progressive Alliance-Left candidate, Pratibha Patil, looks poised to win comfortably against Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the independent candidate backed by the Oposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The results will be officially announced on Saturday by the Election Commission.
Pratibha Patil is expected to take over India's top constitutional post replacing current president APJ Abdul Kalam on July 25, at a glittering ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Even before Pratibha takes over officially, she has been inundated by congratulatory messages and bouquets from Congress leaders mainly to please the party high command.
Though victory for Pratibha is near certain, several cases of corruption, financial irregularities and murder pending against her will continue. Though she will be protected by Presidential immunity, the criminal cases against her are bound to come under public scrutiny.
Agencies are investigating allegations of abuse of power against her. Also, different scams involving bank and sugar mills floated by her family are being probed. Even the Reserve Bank of India has indicted her cooperative bank in a case. There are also talks in political quarters of possible 'impeachment proceeding' against Pratibha once she takes up the job.
The motion to impeach her as President needs to be backed by just one-fourth of the members of the Lok Sabha. During this process of impeachment debate, as per the constitution, the President would have the right to defend herself through an authorised counsel. Her elevation as President is likely to stir up demands to amend the laws for a fresh look at the immunity clause attached to the office of the President. All this could be enough to disrupt proceedings during the forthcoming monsoon session of Parliament.
The political fallout of the scams surrounding Pratibha Patil may cost the ruling UPA dearly. The NDA has to handle the situation deftly. The UPA's image has anyway been besmirched by controversies, political observers said.
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