Steamroller win for Kovind a boost for Modi

It was a foregone conclusion that Ram Nath Kovind, the BJP’s nominee for President would win hands down. True to expectations he has emerged triumphant by a huge margin, winning over 65 per cent of the total votes in the electoral college. While the NDA and the other parties that had pledged support to him stood by him like a rock, there was also some cross voting in his favour from opposition ranks which boosted his numbers. The true extent of his sway would only be known subsequently when detailed figures are duly analyzed, but suffice it to say that he has met expectations handsomely and it is now time for him to look to the future. As the constitutional functionary he would have to discharge his duties without fear or favour and uphold constitutional principles. His counsel to the government of the day will be expected to be weighty and well thought out. While the Constitution makes it incumbent on him to act on the advice of the council of ministers, there are some areas of discretion that need to be exercised with due deliberation and care.

The 71-year-old Ram Nath Kovind will be the second Dalit to hold the high constitutional office. He is the first BJP member to be elected President. While the sheer weight of numbers of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was enough to catapult Kovind to the coveted office, he got a huge psychological boost with the pledge of support he got from Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who broke away from opposition ranks to pitch for him. Support for Kovind indeed came from diverse quarters, breaking barriers of caste, religion and classes. Kovind’s challenger Meira Kumar was a Dalit too and a former Speaker of the Lok Sabha. While 17 political parties offered her support, it was clear all along that the numbers would not add up. Doubtlessly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reason to be elated over Kovind’s spectacular victory. He has his task cut out for a big win in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The scramble for 2019 would indeed gain momentum now and the Opposition will need a lot of ingenuity and drive to match up to the Modi magic which seems unstoppable as of now.