Federalism and concentration of power

  Indian constitution have adopted a federal distribution of power where states are given political power by schedule 7 and financial autonomy via article 270 and others.

Influence of concentration of power

• Only twice over 2/3rd majority was obtained by a single party or coalition, once INC(I) under Rajiv Ghandhi and BJP under Narendra Modi
• Taking these as precedents examples could be plucked out
• One trend is stalling governance in states through the office of Governor, central bureaucracy like E.D.,C.B.I, N.I.A.,etc and delay in disbursal of funds
• Another is rolling out welfare schemes like Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana, PM Sram Yogi Mandhan, PM B.J.P. etc
• Higher expenditure in infrastructure projects
• Also role of Parliament especially Rajya Sabha declined heavily, with less sittings, disruptions, lesser bills scrutinized etc.

Way forward

• Consultation and compromising governance that resist straight jacket-ting motivations
• American model upper house where states are represented more or less equally

India follows the West Minister system of Governance in which an absolute majority in Parliament could lead to almost unprecedented power to the executive. We need to create checks against it.