Race for the top post in India

Dubai - Strikingly common feature of all these three candidates is their caste. All three are part of the Dalit community

By Santhosh Mishra

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Sat 24 Jun 2017, 10:48 PM

Last updated: Sun 25 Jun 2017, 12:49 AM

The race for the top spot in India is on. We will know in a few days on who will occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi in July. The ruling government's choice of candidate, Ram Nath Kovind, for president is encouraging. However, what's more interesting is the choice of candidates of opposition parties. In a counter act, Congress is nominating Meira Kumar as its candidate and Communist party is projecting Prakash Ambedkhar, the grand son of late B. R. Ambedkar, for the top post. Strikingly common feature of all these three candidates is their caste. All three are part of the Dalit community. Yet, opposition parties are questioning Kovind's association with the RSS. Which Dalit candidate will occupy the president's position is anyone's guess. But what is worrisome is the trend of playing politics with castes. Isn't it time India should look ahead and chalk out more progressive policies for all to benefit. Why are we still caught in the clutches of the caste system? Caste based system should be dissolved, and everyone should be on equal footing. Politics and policymaking need to take lead. But will they? For politicians are the ones who have benefitted the most.

- Santhosh Mishra, Dubai


More news from