Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Friday, 29 September 2017

Why can’t we institutionalize Coalition ?



Economic Times ( 29 Sept ) carries following news report titled :



Better Growth in Coalition Govts : Reddy



A coalition government that produced consensus on policy-making was probably better than the one with a majority as far as economic growth was concerned, former RBI governor YV Reddy has said. 


Since economic liberalisation, beginning 1991 under the premiership of Narasimha Rao, India’s GDP growth rate was the highest in fiscal 2007, when it touched 9.6%, under the UPA led by Manmohan Singh. Under the new series, GDP grew 10.55% in FY2010.

 
The previous highest growth rate of 10.2% in fiscal 1989 was recorded under Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, data from the Central Statistics Office revealed.

 
Interestingly, the highest growth in India from 1990 to 2014 was really during coalition governments,’’ Reddy told an audience in Washington.


“ So, in a way it is consensus based...in Indian situation, a coalition probably produces better economic results than a strong government,”  he said.

 
To buttress his argument about the benefits of a coalition government, Reddy said the administration handled the 1991 currency crisis well, of which he was part as a bureaucrat.


“ The remarkable thing was that despite an unstable political situation, they managed a political consensus for whatever was needed to manage it successfully,’’ said Reddy.




My friend , Gurudatta is much more analytical in examining the virtues of a COALITION GOVERNMENT



After reading my following blog :

 

here is what he wrote :


Advantages of Constitutional Coalition Government 


·          Being a part of the govt. all parties will be accountable for non-performance.


·           By the same logic, for any achievements during such a Govt’s tenure, the credit will be shared by them all, irrespective of their size, thus promoting positivity and unity of purpose.


·          Even accountability for non-implementation of the pre-poll promises will be collective.


·           Unlike in the past, the tendency of raking up old issues/past failures by way of investigation/court cases etc. of any of the constituents will be curbed, saving immense national resources. Besides, more time will be available for constructive discussions, decisions and prompt implementation of the projects.


·           A lot of legislature time & other resources wasted on endless debates, allegations and counter-allegations will be saved for constructive work, enabling faster implementation & outcome of the plans.


·           The Speakers of the respective legislative houses will be able to carry on their responsibility with equanimity and fairness.


·           Moves, suggestions or new ideas brought up by any of the constituents, irrespective of their individual strength but solely on the merit and test of national interest, would be taken up.


·           The party with highest number of elected members will naturally seek to retain important ministries, irrespective of the comparative capability of their own elected members vis-à-vis other parties’ members with equal or better merit. This can somewhat be defused by the giving Dy Ministership to other party candidates but depending on the merits.


·          Such sweeping change in the governance, can we also expect to have better candidates appointed to head the GOI entities, governors, vice-presidents, presidents and judges of the courts? Most probably.




I believe , this is an  “ IDEA  WHOSE  TIME  HAS  COME “  !


Those in favour , please “ RAISE  YOUR  HAND “  - and your VOICE  !



29  Sept  2017






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