Advani sidelined again, Ramnath Kovind, a dalit, would be NDA's presidential nominee

The BJP parliamentary board has decided to field  Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind as NDA’s presidential nominee.  He is a Dalit face of the BJP and could influence dalit and OBC voters in the cow belt.

BJP chief Amit Shah said that there should be unanimity on his name.

(Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind has been announced as NDA's presidential nominee)

This has come as a shocker of a decision for those who were considering former Deputy Prime Minister L.K.Advani as an experienced campaigner for this post.  

Meeting, which the BJP chief Amit Shah had with Shiv Sena, Congress and other leaders,  failed to reach a consensus.  

Gone are the days when parties would agree on one issue, or one certain name. 

So far only Neelam Sanjeev Reddy was elected as president, unopposed, this time too, it looks practically impossible to reach a consensus. 

There were indications in the BJP’s rank and file feels that L.K.Advani should be the first choice for the post of president given his tonnes of political and social experience.

In last five decades of history of BJP and Jansangh, L.K.Advani had been the sole flag bearer of Hindutva and its cause apart from former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Atal was favoured by all cutting across party lines because of his liberal image, while Advani took BJP from nadir to its pinnacle.

(The original Rathyatri, L.K.Advani)

Competing ideas, politics and ego clashes could the main reason for differing views.   

L.K.Advani has more friends in other parties than BJP. Congress and JD(U) might not oppose his candidature. There are other parties who would support Advani for him impeccable political career sans any corruption charges.

The only hiccough is ongoing CBI inquiry into Babri Mosque demolition case against L.K.Advani

Congress has spoken in clear terms that they would fight to win, while left and others have made it clear that they will make BJP’s bid to elect president tough.

NDA has no alternative in this given situation.  

BJP has to look with for this mess as there are almost a dozen names doing the round at present for the post of president. 

LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, Sumitra Mahajan, Ram Naik, Draupadi Murmu and Thavar Chand Gehlot are the prominent names unofficially floated with various pressure groups. 

What BJP could have done was simply make an official statement regarding the issue at hand.