Former president Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha has ruled out her father’s return to active politics amid reports of his projection as a prime ministerial candidate in case the BJP does not get the required numbers in the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Sharmistha’s remarks came in response to reports quoting Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut that the RSS may put forth the former president’s name for the prime minister’s post in case the BJP failed to get the required numbers.
“Mr Raut, after retiring as President of India, my father is NOT going to enter into active politics again,” Sharmistha said on Twitter.
An editorial in Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamana said that the RSS agenda on inviting Pranab Mukherjee to their headquarters will be revealed only after the Lok Sabha elections of 2019.
“As per the current scenario, the BJP will not get a majority then (in 2019). If the Lok Sabha polls deliver a hung verdict and alliance partners do not stand by Modi, then Pranab Mukherjee could be a consensus candidate for a national government. Such a possibility is on the RSS agenda,” the editorial said.
The editorial said that the former President did not touch upon the contentious issues during the tenure of the BJP-led government, including the crisis in judiciary, inflation and unemployment.
In his speech on Thursday, the former president stressed on the need for freeing public discourse from all forms of violence and reminded the government about Rajdharma. DH
