Democracy -------------- ?

                                     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.

Hyderabad.