President for consensus on social, political problems

President K R Narayanan said he would try to evolve ''common factors'' while fashioning his approach to tackle the social and political problems facing the country.

The new President voiced this view when asked what would be his touchstone and guiding principles during an interview to Malayala Manorama soon after assuming office. Narayanan expressed happiness on being elected by a consensus among all the major political parties and said, ''I will like to capitalise on this consensus that the country has given to me in this election.''

''It also may be a problem in the sense that I have to listen to everybody. But that is the best thing one can do to listen to every point of view. I represent the common expectation of all these parties with their different policies and approaches to issues,'' he said.

Asked about his priorities with the nation facing a crisis of values, Narayanan felt such a situation had emerged as people were overwhelmed by narrower considerations.

Restoring the nation's confidence in itself is the primary objective of every thinking person, the President said, adding, ''My appeal will be to rise above these divisions, quarrels and narrow thinking. This is necessary for the sake of our future.''

Assessing the President's role in the next five years in the light of the present-day political dynamics of the country, he said, ''There might be a role for the President to reflect deeply upon a critical situation and choose what is, according to his light, the right thinking according to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.''

On achieving consensus in the case of a hung Parliament or assembly, he commented that every situation needed a different approach for solution. ''The President cannot take a positive initiative to settle all these issues... It is not possible to find a single common solution to every situation. One has to observe every situation and it will be different from other situations and then look for a solution,'' he said.

About handling pressures that operate at the highest levels, the President replied, ''I have at the moment only a theoretical knowledge of these pressures. I can tell... only after I get a taste of that.''

Narayanan said he would try to reach out to people despite being hedged in by all manners of restrictions, protocol and security. It depends on how... through all these restrictions, one projects the human factor ... I look upon it as the greatest joy to interact with people, understand their thinking and problems. Though I shall be surrounded by a lot of protocol and other restrictions, it shall be my effort to break out and meet people.''