Political parties welcome coalition, with riders

There might be difference in opinion, ideology, policy proposal among the different political parties but all agreed unanimously at a public meeting in Kolkata today on one fact: the country shall be ruled by coalition governments at the Centre for the next few years.

Salman Khurshid, president of the Uttar Pradesh committee of the Indian National Congress explained that the era of single party government controlling all the ministries and departments was over. He said this was a move for the better as multi-party rule ensured the existence of a force that prevented distortions and systemic abuse that could have led to the collapse of the Indian system.

"The country has moved at the right time towards a coalition government and the situation is now comfortable as forces are strong enough to resist distortive forces," said Khurshid at a discussion session on 'Does coalition politics hinder economic development?' organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce.

He said the diversity in ideas thrown up at multi-party forums and discussions at the central government level by the presence of different parties in case of a coalition government worked better.

Economic development was taking place in the coalition era though there was lack of unanimity of thought among all the parties in an alliance, Khurshid pointed out. However, the way democracy worked in India did not always respect the feelings of the common man, he said.

For example, several coalitions had been formed after the election results had been announced, between political parties which has been campaigning against each other. This was an insult to the public sentiment, he added.

"The act of forming a coalition just in order to form a government shows lack of integrity and respect among political parties and there should be change in this regard," Khurshid stated.

State level parties often lacked the weight needed to influence policy making at the central level and a coalition government was the solution to this problem, pointed out Nilotpal Basu, leader of the CPI(M) party and member of the Rajya Sabha.

"A single party which is not organisationally strong across the country cannot represent the whole nation's view and a system cannot sustain without public's support under a democratic framework," said Basu.

Basu harped on the difference between economic growth and economic development at the meeting. The eagerness of the Left Front state government in West Bengal to set up infrastructure in the state was not a state level endeavour but was in line with national interests and the central government policy of 'look East', he added.

Jagdish Shettigar, convenor of the economic affairs committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party called for fixation of a proper calendar or time schedule for the conduct of elections at different levels and in different states in the country.

"The central government is often constrained by the many elections taking place at different time point in different areas in the country. For economic development the major requirement is strong economic reforms, setting aside the popularity and election issue," said Shettigar.