This refers to A K Bhattacharya’s column “The changes coalitions need” (Delhi diary, January 11). In a vibrant democracy, a coalition government is the last choice. But in our case it has become a continuing inevitability. The history of unsuccessful coalition governments traced by the writer points to the need for a radically different approach by political parties — particularly the regional ones. Whether it is DMK or AIDMK, the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party or the Trinamool Congress, they need to shed their state-centric narrow focus and learn to evolve and work on a broad national vision. A coalition formed before the election is a better option than post-election arrangements that give rise to political horse-trading. Besides, considerable flexibility is required when partners have differing political, social and financial ideology. Above all, mutual trust-building based on transparency, prior consultations and co-sharing of political gains from government policies should be the norm. The trouble the UPA II is courting is because of a lack of this strategy.
Y G Chouksey Pune
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