Need for a new System

NEED FOR A NEW SYSTEM
BY. E.M.ADITHYAN

Political scenario in India has undergone a metamorphosis during the last few years. Politics, which was considered a saga of social service in the pre-independence period, has become a lucrative business for earning quick returns. Corruption and criminalisation have made politics a synonym of all dirty tricks and a profession unfit for men of principles. Over the years an impression has been created, that a person who is unfit to serve the community through any other profession (viz. Scientist, Doctor, Engineer, Bureaucrat, Accountant, Businessmen etc.) could, however become a ‘successful’ politician. Politicians who join hands with the criminals and anti-social elements with the ulterior motive of annihilating their adversaries often fall prey to their own misdeeds, as on many occasions their actions boomerang.

With the multiplicity of political parties based on regional, casteist, communal, linguistic and parochial considerations and the fast eroding base of national parties, hung assemblies/parliament and coalition set-up has become the order of the day. Even the national parties are adopting the idea of ‘Marriage of convenience’ to boost their electoral prospects in different regions with utter disregard to their principles and ideologies. Common man is losing interest in the election process, as they don’t find much difference among the alternatives. Even the popular verdict is not a true index of the mandate of the masses as on many occasions it is due to the negative voting to defeat the party in power. It is ironical that in the largest democracy of the world politicians enjoying the mandate of miniscule section of the masses are holding exalted positions in the Government. Split and the division in the parties are caused not because of ideological differences but due to personal prejudices. Our political parties appear to have unknowingly adopted a slogan “Growing to split and splitting to grow”.
Coalition Governments formed with the internal and external support of the parties having heterogeneous and divergent views with the common minimum programme of clinging to power will not make a stable set-up. The threat of withdrawing support to coalition always hangs as a “Damocles’ Sword” over the head of the Government. Decisions are taken under extraneous and narrow considerations and in the process national interest will become the biggest casualty.

Under the circumstances, it will be worthwhile to consider a new system of Government i.e. formation of an all party Government. Under this system, all the elected representatives will form an Electoral College and they elect the Prime Minister/Chief Minister and other Ministers by secret ballot. A person who has been elected as a Minister should be precluded from holding any party position. Since the cabinet collectively takes major decisions and policy matters and as the powers, duties and responsibilities of Ministers are defined, there should not be any cause for confrontation or confusion. In order to maintain the stability of the ministry, the practice of moving no-confidence motions shall be restricted to remove only a Minster, Ministers or the Prime Minister/Chief Minister. Ministers will also be free from the pulls and pressures of their political bosses as only a majority within the composite structure can remove them.

This system of governance is already prevailing in several organizations where the members elect the managing committee who in turn elects the office bearers. It is hoped that all the political parties will ponder over this issue and arrive at a consensus in the larger national interest and if necessary amend the constitution for formation of a stable Government, which is sinequo-non for the progress of the country. A truly National Government like this only can save the country from disintegration and anarchy. Otherwise India will become a permanent stage for enacting petty political dramas.