Ali (a) acted as an advisor for first two caliphs which saved them from many mistakes. If Ali (a) had not been there, Abu Bakr and Umar wouldn't have got the title of Khulafah Rashideen. Even Umar confessed publicly that "Lawla Ali can halaqa Umar - Had it not been for Ali, Umar would have been destroyed".
But did Imam Ali (a) deemed them as rightly guided khulafa?
The answer is NO!. He infact assessed them both as liars, sinful, treacherous and dishonest. And the irony is that Umar himself acknowledged this to Imam 'Ali (a):
When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) passed away, Abu Bakr said:" I am the successor of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)." Both of you came to demand your shares from the property (left behind by the Messenger of Allah). (Referring to Hadhrat 'Abbas), he said: You demanded your share from the property of your nephew, and he (referring to 'Ali) demanded a share on behalf of his wife from the property of her father. Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said:" We do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity." So both of you thought him to be a liar, sinful, treacherous and dishonest. And Allah knows that he was true, virtuous, well-guided and a follower of truth. When Abu Bakr passed away and (I have become) the successor of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him), you thought me to be a liar, sinful, treacherous and dishonest.
- (Sahih Muslim Book 019, Number 4349)
Please remember it is Ali who according to RasulAllah (s)** is with HAQ and HAQ is with him and where he goes HAQ goes with him".**
And, 'Ali is with the truth and the truth is with 'Ali, O Allah turn the truth in whichever direction that he turns"
The selection of Uthman as khalifa also support this view that Ali never acknowledged both Abu Bakr and umar to be rightly guided. The khilafat was given to Uthman instead of Ali because he (a) wanted to follow the seerah of NabiAllah (s) istead of seerah of Shaikhain.
People have every right to defend the status of thier leaders but please do tell us what was that bad or wrong in the practices of Abu Bakr and 'Umar that 'Ali rejected to adhere to it?