This refers to the column "Farewell, a golden age" (Policy Rules, May 12) by Mihir S Sharma. Although there may be no disputing the facts presented in the column that show that economy didn't perform too badly under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) compared to the previous National Democratic Alliance government, but if one were to pin the unpopularity of UPA on a single factor, it would undoubtedly be corruption and cronyism. The author may be right to say that there is nothing in the Constitution that says that the prime minister must push his own preferences on his Cabinet members. However, common sense as also the cabinet system of democratic governance does indicate that the prime minister must be more equal among equals. It must be his responsibility to ensure that his Cabinet does not stray from a clear, though broad direction and does not step out of a transparent policy framework.
Kishor Kulkarni Mumbai
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