HVK Archives: No, Mr President
No, Mr President - The Hindustan Times
Editorial
()
9 May 1997
Title : No, Mr President
Author : Editorial
Publication : The Hindustan Times
Date : May 9, 1997
For a man who scrupulously followed the line of least resistance in the matter of
forming governments at the Centre since the last general election, Dr Shankar
Dayal Sharma's reported decision to invite Governors and leaders of political
parties to a conference to consider the course of action on this very subject is
an extremely unusual one. Not to put too fine a point on it, the President's
exaltect position under the Constitution demands that he hold himself aloof from
any constitutional or political controversy. It is quite beyond his brief to take
the initiative in discussing any such issue except on a strictly private basis.
Arguably, the usual meeting of Governors could have dwelt on this question with
the President presiding over it in a formal capacity without taking a direct part.
But to hold a meeting of Governors, and of political parties, is undoubtedly an
extraordinary step, quite out of tune with the largely ceremonial role envisaged
for the President under the parliamentary system. The President's anguish about
the signs of instability is, of course, understandable. Undeniably, there is a
need to develop widely accepted conventions for situations where no single party
secures a majority. But these are issues which have to be resolved by the
political class within the parliamentary system, with its three arms-the
executive, the legislature and the judiciary-playing the primary role.
The President, though an integral part of the system, is also above it-and for a
definite purpose. It is only by maintaining a dignified distance from the heat and
dust of routine politicking that he can play the requisite role of ensuring a
smooth transition. So far, Dr Sharma's adherence to this precept has been
admirable. His offer to the BJP as the largest party in Parliament to prove its
majority even though the United Front had by then come into existence was widely
recognised as the correct one. Even now, the nod he gave to Mr Gujral to prove
his majority was seen as unavoidable. These steps were recognised as being
entirely in consonance with the best of parliamentary traditions. Apart from
ensuring continuity even in these admittedly turbulent times, Dr Sharma's
adherence to the rule book and his reliance on commonsense have taken much of the
heat out of the political atmosphere. It is difficult to understand, however,
what persuaded him to call a meeting to discuss the constitutional points raised
by the recent developments. Far from yielding a solution, it can only embroil the
President in an unseemly controversy.
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