A shambolic, symbolic fight

If the opposition wanted to put up a symbolic fight for the President's post, as they have been claiming, they could have gone for anyone other than an opportunist who quit the sangh parivar only because he didn't get the posts he has been wishing for. Quite disappointing to see even left leaders praising Yashwant Sinha, who had stood with the BJP till 2018. Beyond all the anti-modi comments that he makes, due to peesonal opportunistic reasons, it is not clear whether he has freed himself fully from the ideology of Hindutva, which he has stood staunchly with for so many years. It is surprising that all the opposition parties could not agree on one person who has been a life-long secular. What is the symbolism in choosing a former sanghi?

As for the BJP's candidate, it is a cause for celebration only for those who believe in identity politics and mere tokenism, without any actual change in the lives of the vast majority of people who share the same identity. But the choice also shows the clear planning of the BJP to expand its base, even as it pursues policies which are against the very same people they are wooing.

June 22