2009/3/21 Nikhil Mehra <[email protected]> > I don;t know about this debate. I don't think it is even real. India cannot > have a Presidential system because I don't think this nation is capable of > a > consensus candidate. The interests of the constituent states has to be > represented at the centre because the power sharing arrangement in the > Constitution as it stands is heavily biased in favor of the centre. Greater > power was not granted to the states at the time of independence because > there was a genuine fear of fragmentation.
I agree that states have more power in the US, but not sure how that has a bearing on the presidential system. While a consensus candidate might be difficult, I think even the US constitution foresaw this possibility and instituted the electoral college. However, in most elections so far, the electoral college members of a state have voted for the candidate that won in that state. What the presidential system (or something similar) does in my opinion, is put a national campaign for presidential candidates beyond the scope of most regional parties. This would over time lead to a consolidation into a few major national parties, and therefore to more stable governments. Laws are still passed by the house where states have representation so I don't see how their representation decreases under this system. Another advantage is the possibility for an independent candidate to run for elections and hold the highest office if he/she can mobilise the funds for the campaign. As we stand today, the comparitively more educated (and richer) section of the Indian population hardly votes or rather can't make a real dent in the elections and instead get things done through bribes. However, a few thousand crores could be mobilised from this demographic by the right candidate. Under the current system, an independent candidate cannot possibly aspire to be PM. And this possibility would make most parties clean up their act. Ross Perot ran for the US presidential office in '92 and he gave the established parties quite a scare. Thoughts? Kiran
