The role of the President of India becomes more significant during a minority government and a coalition government. Explain.(UPSC CSE Mains 2021 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 1)
- India has enough experience with the functioning of unstable and opportunistic coalition governments both at the central and the state levels. Governors have often asked the leader of a newly formed coalition government to seek a vote of confidence to prove majority support.
- Shankar Dayal Sharma invited A B Vajpayee, leader of a minority party in the Lok Sabha in 1996, to form the government. This first BJP-led government at the Centre lasted from May 16 to June 1, 1996. It resigned without facing the vote of no-confidence moved by parties opposed to it.
- That was not the first time that a minority-party led government has functioned at the Centre. The classic example of a minority-led government was of Indira Gandhi from 1969 till she asked for the dissolution of the Lok Sabha at the end of 1970.
- The Congress party had split in 1969 on the issue of ‘conscience vote’ for the office of President of India and Indira Gandhi-led Congress was reduced to the position of the largest party with minority of seats in the Lok Sabha.
- Legality or constitutionality of Indira Gandhi’s government from 1969 to the end of 1970 was not at all questioned because it was left to the opposition parties to either move a vote of no confidence or allow such a government to continue in office.
- This story was repeated in 1991 when P V Narasimha Rao formed a Congress led government that had the largest number of seats, but was in a minority in the Lok Sabha. Incidentally, to characterise the V P Singh or the Chandra Shekar governments at the Centre from 1989 to 1991 or the purely temporary prime ministerships of H D Deva Gowda and I K Gujral from 1996 to 1998 as coalition governments is a complete misnomer.
- These four PMs did not have any support base and they survived on the ‘outside’ support of other parties and groups. These short-lived PMs enjoyed power at the pleasure of the ‘outside supporters.
- Under the Discretionary Powers of the President, if no single party gains majority and a "coalition government" is to be formed, President can exercise a little discretion and select the leader of any party who, in his opinion, can form a stable ministry. However, even in such a situation, his action should be guided by certain conventions. President may first invite a person and appoint him the Prime Minster and then ask him to prove his majority or seek a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha within a reasonable time.
- In the absence of any clear provision relating to the manner in which a government should be appointed in case of a ''Hung Parliament'', we must evolve our own conventions. Asking the house to elect its own leader seems to be a wise step in this regard. It is time that political parties rise from petty politics and devote their energy and resources in keeping the people''s trust alive, which they are obliged to do.
- It can be hence seen that the President''s role is not only confined to installing a relatively stable government but also extend to constantly and carefully scrutinising its activities, rectifying its mistakes and in devising new and effective methods of governance. The President must personally supervise the appointment of Governors to the states, and carefully monitor their functioning. The appointment of suitable candidates can pre-empt situations wherein the gubernatorial posts could be used for partisan political designs. Art. 356 is another area which the President would have to prevent from being misused. The fiasco in UP and the rare political sagacity and constitutional propriety, which the President displayed in asking the Union to reconsider its recommendations was laudable.
- The very fact that the Cabinet did not press the matter further is clearly indicative of the fact that the Cabinet acknowledged the latent power of the President, acting as a check on the unbridled exercise of power by the Council of Ministers. This is especially important in the light of the fact that ''Hung Parliaments'' are also being replicated in the States at an even faster rate. Thus the President has a very big responsibility on his shoulders, as he is the defender of the constitutional ethics.
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