Shri Pranab Mukherjee, one of the senior politicians in the country with about four decades of experience in the central government behind him is the new President of India. I heartily congratulate him on his election to the highest office in the country.

The President  is the constitutional head and is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, including army, navy and airforce. But the fact, as every body knows, is that he is the nominal head only and have to generally function on the advice of the Central Cabinet. He is non-political but has to act as per the advice of the government run by the elected political party/parties.

I had the opportunity to meet him three – four times during the 1970s when he was the State Minister of Finance ( or Dy. Minister of Finance?). It was in connection with the upgradation of Calicut City from a C class city to B Class for the grant of House rent Allowance for the Central Govt. Employees etc.  The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers took up the issue with the government. 5 lakh population is required for declaring a city to B Class but Calicut was having only 3,33,000 population at that time. But there were other considerations like urban agglomeration etc. As the Convener of the Confederation, along with other comrades, we met Shri V.V.Giri, President of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister and the concerned Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee. And within three years, with the same population, we got the city upgraded. The decision was taken by the latter.

I hope that Shri Pranab Mukherjee, as President, will keep up the high tradition of the post of President and use his high office for improving the conditions of the poor and working people of the country.

I wish him every success in his new responsibility.