Democracy, Yes.
But lets opt for
A Federal Democracy. The US Module.
We have experienced a Democracy
of the British Module, commonly known as the
Cabinet type, where the Prime
Minister is the Boss of the Governing Machinery, assisted by a Council of
Ministers, popularly known as the Cabinet.
The President is the Figurative, powerless
dummy Head of State, like the British Monarch. The only difference being, our
President’s post is not Hereditary, but an elective post from an Electoral
College comprising of all Elected Parliamentarians and Legislators of all
States.
Naturally, the Party in Power
with majority in Parliament and most State Legislatures, can get its candidate
elected as President so that he / she can be a Loyal and Effective Rubber Stamp
for the Prime Minister.
In the British Module of
Democracy Kingship is accepted for Heading a Government. All decision making Powers rests with only
the Elected Parliamentarian / Prime Minister. Since the King or Queen has no
Power worth its name, it is immaterial whether that Position is Hereditary or
Elected. As Britishers are Tradition bound in their Psyche, the Royal Family
exists till today for giving the country a Head of State.
For a moment let us set aside the
question of who should be a Head of
State and whether Head should be elected or be Hereditary. Its not all that
important at this Stage.
Ever since August 15, 1947, when India
became independent, we have struggled with a Democracy where the multi party
system, theoretically, but practically a single party system ruled the land for
almost six and a half decades. Barring a two and a half years of Janta party
rule in 1977 – 1979, and a full term of 5 years by BJP in 1998 – 2003, the
Congress ruled this great democracy, from 1947 to 2011, with almost a
Hereditary Congress President, from the Nehru family.
People were made to believe that there was no
alternative to the Congress. No other major party could challenge the Congress
for a majority in the Crucial Lok Sabha. Even the much hyped BJP had to form an
alliance with a score of regional parties to form the NDA and come to power
with Atal Behari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister.
This set into motion, the game of
forming Alliances to grab power at the Centre as well as in States. A stage
came in 2004, when even the mighty Congress had to form an Alliance with smaller parties and form the
UPA to run the Central Government. And this UPA, still continues till date, known as UPA
II.
Even in States like Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, UP, and now West Bengal , governments
could be formed only with alliances of other small but significant regional
parties. To-day a small party with even as low a number as 12 or 15 is a
Crucial King Maker to bring down a government, because of the alliance / number
games. And once they know they are indispensible to retain power, they
blackmail the larger party to gain their advantages and protect their own vote
banks.
This being the present plight of our
much hyped “successful democracy”, it is pertinent, nay essential to think
deeply and debate whether we should
still slog with the British
Module of Democracy, the majority Party in Parliament and its Prime Ministerial
Candidate.
Or can we dispense with this
indirect method of having the Chief Executive to run the Government, namely the
majority party Prime minister. And when the required majority is not there we
end up with the Alliances, where the Decision is not the Prime Minister’s but
the Alliance Partners who wield the Power of “Veto”, to topple the Government,
any time their say is not accepted. Like we have now Mamta Banerjee, holding
Man Mohan Singh to ransom, each time her word is not honoured.
Instead lets look at and debate
the American Module, where People directly elect the Chief Executive, The
President of U S A, to run the
Government by forming his own Cabinet of renowned Experts even if they are not
elected Congressmen.
This system appears to be more
effective as far as accountability to the Nation is concerned. And an elected
Chief Executive, whether you call him Prime Minister or President, has no
chance to escape inaction or inefficiency in the name of Alliance Partners not
agreeing.
Lets debate, discuss in various
Fora and find a solution to this outdated and anarchic British Module, we
follow today.
We need a true and selfless,
intelligent level headed CEO to run this country. He or She need not be a
Genius, or of “Royal Nehru Blood”, to deliver the much needed Development. How
long are we going to remain as a developing Nation ? Will we ever become a Developed Nation, with
today’s Politicians Tribe who rely on Money and Muscle Power than basic Common
Sense and level headedness ?
Let the Nation Decide.
Ramachandra Parsa.
