Sir — With yet another hung Assembly looming large in Delhi, the time has come for constitutional pundits to seriously resolve the deadlocks in Government formation in such a situation. It is a fraud on constitutional governance, if parties contesting against one another and having diametrically opposite views, join together post-election result, through a so-called common minimum programme. Such a programme is nothing but a common manoeuvre to come to power. But forcing an election again is also a drain on our resources.
Electoral laws need a provision to legitimise only pre-election alliances, so that the coalition can approach the people with a common understanding, and then leave it to the maturity and wisdom of the electorate to judge. It is also worthwhile to bring in a constitutional amendment so that the party or a pre-election alliance that gets the maximum seats should assume power, and to be voted out not through a simple majority but by a two-third majority.
Floor-crossing will then be reduced to a minimum, public exchequer will not be burdened too often, and the stable formation of Governments can be facilitated at the constitutionally-ordained time with horse-trading being contained. There is also a need for an enlightened media debate on the mushrooming of political parties. This has played havoc with the ideals of good governance.