Reduce elections- save public money
Indian media are possessed with three things Cricket, Cinema and Corruption. Wherever money comes in to play corruption is bound to be there.
Corruption in systems can be addressed through legal course of action. But when the very basis of governance is entrenched with corruption, the remedy is difficult through legal course.
One way is to modify the system so that scope for corruption becomes less and and less.
Fathers of our Indian constitution had good confidence in the citizens who were expected to be patriots. Probably they least expected that the very representatives of people would stoop to the level of ' horse trading'.
Once again we see it in Karnataka, a hung Assembly after the recent elections. The Party with highest elected members is unable to form a government because it falls short of absolute majority.
The opposition is bent upon preventing it to form the government.They are ready to form 'unholy' alliances. Politicians who were slinging mud on each other a few days before the election are ready to become 'friends' after the results came.
Everyone knows that this kind of opportunistic friendship won't last. Soon 'President's Rule' will come in effect, a question of few month's time. This means bureaucrats will run the administration.
Attitude of these politicians reflect least respect for people's mandate. The president of a party -which lost deposit in nearly 140 constituents- aspires and manipulates the system to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Satish Acharya's todays cartoon in Star of Mysore aptly reflects the ground reality.
This is not the first time nor going to be the end of this problem. Public money is squandered in conducting elections because of absence of commitment by the representatives.
It is going to recur again again at both state level and National level. The logical remedy for this is, all elected members accept the People's mandate and allow a minority government to run its course while the opposition gives issue based support.
That is not going to happen, for seat of Power is for tapping the source of money, NOT working for Public Welfare
In that case a remedy has to be worked out through constitutional amendment which strikes off this 'number game' but reflects the spirit of people mandate.
What kind of amendment is required ?
1) Always the political party with highest representatives will form the government.
2) If they do not enjoy absolute majority they have to seek referendum To continue or Not to continue at the end of half term.
3) All public servants like IAS, IPS IFS Senior officers and Heads of Departments of different government departments ( in short all gazetted officials) will participate in an online electronic voting to decide the fate of the minority government. It is an inexpensive way of seeking opinion from citizens in responsible positions without any election expenses. Similar to Corporates seeking online-consent from share holders for Board Resolutions during AGM
4) The minority government will be able to implement all programs subject to certain restrictions with regard to launching mega projects ( like bullet train ).
At national level, the elected members of all state assembly will give their choice (continue or not to continue) for the Central Government to function in addition to public servants.
In other words, the first two and half years no party can move a 'no confidence motion' against the ruling party.
If the mandate of referendum is in favour of the government then for one more year no party can move a ' No Confidence Motion'. That means a fair opportunity is given to the largest party for a period of two and half to three and half years to demonstrate their efficacy of governance
If the referendum goes against the ruling party, then the Governor will request the ruling party to demonstrate the confidence of the Assembly for continuation of their governance.
This will reduce the election expenses on the exchequer and unruly behavior of vested groups of different political wings.
But, who is to bell the cat, I mean the politicians ?
Corruption in systems can be addressed through legal course of action. But when the very basis of governance is entrenched with corruption, the remedy is difficult through legal course.
One way is to modify the system so that scope for corruption becomes less and and less.
Fathers of our Indian constitution had good confidence in the citizens who were expected to be patriots. Probably they least expected that the very representatives of people would stoop to the level of ' horse trading'.
Once again we see it in Karnataka, a hung Assembly after the recent elections. The Party with highest elected members is unable to form a government because it falls short of absolute majority.
The opposition is bent upon preventing it to form the government.They are ready to form 'unholy' alliances. Politicians who were slinging mud on each other a few days before the election are ready to become 'friends' after the results came.
Everyone knows that this kind of opportunistic friendship won't last. Soon 'President's Rule' will come in effect, a question of few month's time. This means bureaucrats will run the administration.
Attitude of these politicians reflect least respect for people's mandate. The president of a party -which lost deposit in nearly 140 constituents- aspires and manipulates the system to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Satish Acharya's todays cartoon in Star of Mysore aptly reflects the ground reality.
It is going to recur again again at both state level and National level. The logical remedy for this is, all elected members accept the People's mandate and allow a minority government to run its course while the opposition gives issue based support.
That is not going to happen, for seat of Power is for tapping the source of money, NOT working for Public Welfare
In that case a remedy has to be worked out through constitutional amendment which strikes off this 'number game' but reflects the spirit of people mandate.
What kind of amendment is required ?
1) Always the political party with highest representatives will form the government.
2) If they do not enjoy absolute majority they have to seek referendum To continue or Not to continue at the end of half term.
3) All public servants like IAS, IPS IFS Senior officers and Heads of Departments of different government departments ( in short all gazetted officials) will participate in an online electronic voting to decide the fate of the minority government. It is an inexpensive way of seeking opinion from citizens in responsible positions without any election expenses. Similar to Corporates seeking online-consent from share holders for Board Resolutions during AGM
4) The minority government will be able to implement all programs subject to certain restrictions with regard to launching mega projects ( like bullet train ).
At national level, the elected members of all state assembly will give their choice (continue or not to continue) for the Central Government to function in addition to public servants.
In other words, the first two and half years no party can move a 'no confidence motion' against the ruling party.
If the mandate of referendum is in favour of the government then for one more year no party can move a ' No Confidence Motion'. That means a fair opportunity is given to the largest party for a period of two and half to three and half years to demonstrate their efficacy of governance
If the referendum goes against the ruling party, then the Governor will request the ruling party to demonstrate the confidence of the Assembly for continuation of their governance.
This will reduce the election expenses on the exchequer and unruly behavior of vested groups of different political wings.
But, who is to bell the cat, I mean the politicians ?
2 comments:
@ Prof Sreenivasaiah : Your apprehension is echoed in the last line " who is to bell the cat?"
Proporitionate representation is nothing but' organised loot'. We had seen the example of UPA2 which though they termed as coalition government it is nothing but opportunistic get together.
No way the voters' welfare is expected to be addressed :(
The state admin has turned to be an illegitimate child; neither father nor mother needs it
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