I am grateful to Sonia...

Those are the words from Ms Pratibha Patil - all set (formalities pending) to become the next President of India. Much is being said about UPA having selected a woman for this post and what it means for India.

But - what a downfall this is...

• If a Presidential Candidate openly expresses gratefulness to the leader of a Political Party - what message does it send about the post of President? Will such a leader be able to act in a non-biased manner in times of crisis.
• I don't care if the President is a woman, or a man, or a minority or a majority. We need people who merit such a position - not someone whose primary merit being touted is being a woman, and a congress loyalist!
• Polls after Polls have consistently shown that Indians wanted Mr Abdul Kalam to continue as President of India for another term. But this is completely ignored by the Politicians.
• Sonia Gandhi has the Prime Minister of her choice, and now a proper rubber stamp President in the making. Will such a candidate maintain the high standards set by her predecessor. Unlikely.

Why didn't it occur to UPA to field her as their first candidate of choice? Barkha Dutt answers: "The answer is simple — it’s because Pratibha Patil’s accomplishments were never considered good enough by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to make her their first choice, or even second, or third, or fourth or fifth. She’s now being billed by the Congress as a person of impeccable qualities."