By Dr Mookhi Amir Ali,
By the look of the things at the end of the fourth phase of the parliamentary election, it is becoming increasingly clear that the country is heading for a coalition government, the stability of which is highly uncertain. The horse-trading which the government formation, unfortunately, necessitates is bad enough. The coalition government so formed cannot function with any efficiency if it has to be constantly concerned about the rug being pulled out from under its feet. There is an antidote for this noxious state of affairs which has now become a scourge both at the centre and at the states. There should be a solemn agreement among all political parties which may have the following clauses.
First, the President offers the largest party to take a first go at forming a government. Instead of asking the leader of that party to form the government and then show the majority on the floor of the house, the President should stipulate that the written support of all MPs supporting the proposed Prime Minister is on his table. This will obviate the prospect of a thirteen day government.
Two, the Common Minimum Programme of the coalition, the basic frame-work of the cabinet formation etc must be discussed, all contentious issues should be thrashed out before the smaller parties pledge support.
Three, the support pledged to the government at this time should be considered the support pledged for the entire term. All parties should solemnly agree to remain with the government, whatever may be the difference.
Four, the continuation of a government in the office should not depend on its success or failure to get a bill passed. The defeat of a bill will not mean the fall of the government. If Manmohan Singh government’s fate had not hinged on passing the Indo-US nuclear deal, perhaps, he would not have wanted to push it through by means bordering on skullduggery.
This way the coalition government formed at the beginning of the term will survive its term. No coalition partner would blackmail the government into submission to their will. Once all the parties know that they have no sword to dangle on the government’s head they would be focused on their accountability to their own constituencies.