President Pranab Mukherjee retires on July 25 paving the way for a new president to take over. The Rashatrapthi Bhavan will have a new tenant in the 14^thPresident of India, Ram Nath Kovind and as his successor, the new President has very big shoes to fill. 

Mukherjee's term was, by and large, non-controversial and he did not have many challenges. Mukherjee was a UPA nominee with his long experience as a Congress leader. The 2014 Lok Sabha polls would have been his first test, but the BJP came to power on its own although political pundits predicted another coalition government. Right from the beginning the relationship between the Modi government and the President was cordial. His office rose to the occasion when Modi decided to invite the Heads of state of the neighbouring countries for his swearing-in ceremony. Mukherjee's relationship with Parliament also was cordial.

Mukherjee spoke his mind on several issues. He had clear views on inclusive politics, corruption and tolerance. He broadly kept the promise of adhering to the book — barring the imposition of President’s rule in Uttarakhand which the Court overturned. However, the hallmark of his tenure would be the many mercy petitions which he rejected. 

The outgoing President has also created a record of sorts and has rejected 30 mercy petitions (31, again, if you include Memon's follow-up plea), and has given fresh leases on lives in four cases. His record of rejecting mercy petitions is unparalleled among his immediate predecessors and, in the history of the Indian republic, is second only to President R Venkatraman, who rejected 45 mercy pleas. 

When Mukherjee's successor, Kovind, takes office, they will have no pending mercy pleas to act upon, an event that hasn't happened in three presidencies.
Several presidents before Mukherjee have left behind their footprints in the Raisina Hills. So what kind of legacy will Pranab Mukherjee leave behind?

"I don't want to leave a legacy because it is a democracy. Democracy is a mass, and I am a part of the mass. I will melt into the mass. Melt into thin air. I would like to be in the midst of the people. I won't leave any legacy," he said in a recent TV interaction.

On the whole, the president leaves Raisina Hills to live a quiet life, setting up a foundation and reading and writing books, but he will be remembered as an able President.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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