Invite leader of largest pre-poll bloc, say statesmen
The Forum for National Concern, a body of
elder statesmen, intellectuals and jurists, has said it would be
logical to ask the leader of the single largest party or the largest
pre-poll alliance with an electoral mandate, if he is able and
willing to form the government.
The forum, which has as its members former President
R Venkataraman, former Maharashtra governor C Subramaniam, S Nijalingappa, Justice H R
Khanna, Dr Rafiq Zakaria and Dr L M Singhvi, said the task before
the President was difficult and daunting.
"We are confident that his wisdom will lead the nation to a
stronger democratic resolve and to a sense of reconciliation which
will restore the fractured psyche of our democratic functioning to
good health."
The Forum was of the opinion that if the leader of the largest
party or the largest pre-poll alliance agreed to form the government
or if he failed to obtain a vote of confidence on the floor of the
Lok Sabha, or if he declined to form the government,
the President may give the option to
the leader of the next largest political party or alliance. If he
also declined, the President should send a message to the Lok Sabha
under Article 86 (2) asking it to elect the leader of the house as
approved by the Supreme Court in principle in the Uttar Pradesh case.
It said India could not afford another Lok Sabha dissolution and
another general election.
"We believe that the need of the hour is for the political
parties and the members of the Lok Sabha to rise above sharp and
bitter adversarial exchanges and hostile postures and to engage in the
constructive task of making our parliamentary institutions work
coherently.''
UNI
Elections '98
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