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| For Modi, who may like to keep Advani out of contention, Venkiah Naidu may make a perfect foil. |
May 14, 2016, NewsCrunch
Here is the father of all speculations – senior BJP leader Venkiah Naidu is said to be positioning himself to replace President Pranab Mukherjee or at least his deputy Hamid Ansari.
BJP rumours hint he may have more than an outside chance.
Venkiah Naidu has been a party president, twice union cabinet minister, and has no enemies. He is always a great support to those in power and recently irked RSS by comparing Modi to God.
He is pliable, has no intellectual pretensions and a political lightweight as most Indian presidents have been – from Fakruddin Ali Ahmed to Zail Singh to Pratibha Patil.
For Modi, who may like to keep Advani out of contention, Venkiah Naidu may make a perfect foil.
His Rajya Sabha term is coming to an end and would have no problem seeking a fourth term from Karnataka.
But according to The Economic Times, Venkiah Naidu had recently asked Modi if he could take a backseat due to health reasons. The Prime Minister reportedly turned it down saying his services were needed.
The Economic Times quoted rumours in the party which say Venkiah Naidu is angling for a governor’s post for now and ‘later take up a higher Constitutional post as and when the vacancy arises’.
Vice President Hamid Ansari’s term is ending in August and President Pranab Mukherjee’s next July.
With good timing and some luck Venkiah Naidu could move into either of the two posts.