“Though Centre-State relations debated for decades together did not get the required attention of the successive central Governments for about seven decades but it can get the required attention now under Modi led NDA coalition Government in presence of a strong opposition. “
The political arithmetic throwing up a new challenge to National Democratic (NDA) Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra would be driven by consensus for the purposes of its stability before a strong opposition in the new parliament. Consensus not only with the allies but opposition alliance also on all contentious would give Government the strength it requires to implement the agenda set out for it by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. The regional parties given due representation in the NDA Government at the centre have obviously a central role in striking a balance in power sharing both at the centre and well as in the states. Since the strength of a federal structure lies in consensus, the regional parties have a greater role in creating an atmosphere of consensus, cooperation and coordination through a sustained process of consultations in institutional and constitutional matters of governance between the central and state governments. Though Centre-State relations debated for decades together did not get the required attention of the successive central Governments for about seven decades but it can get the required attention now under Modi led NDA coalition Government in presence of a strong opposition.
“Since a collaborative system over policies and decisions suits the federal structure of India, the consensus always a guideline for the working of coalition Governments in India deserves a central place in the central-state relations for the purposes of political stability in the country. Prime Minister Modi has got a golden opportunity to script a new chapter in over seven decade old constitutional history of the country by embarking on a major constitutional initiative over centre-state relations in consensus with both the allies of the NDA and as well as the opposition parties. The onus of playing a central role in establishing a strong system for centre-state relations in view of the present political arithmetic in the parliament lies on BJP’s coalition partners in the NDA at the centre.”
While successive central governments couldn’t give centre-state relations the required strength due to acrimonies with the regional parties in the state the incumbent NDA Government at the centre having several regional on it’s side could evolve a consensus on establishing a strong system of centre-state relations under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra. Already there are very good recommendations of several panels constituted by previous Government on Centre-State relation and the incumbent NDA Government can take cues from such recommendation before starting a major initiative on centre-state relations. Since a collaborative system over policies and decisions suits the federal structure of India, the consensus always a guideline for the working of coalition Governments in India deserves a central place in the central-state relations for the purposes of political stability in the country. Prime Minister Modi has got a golden opportunity to script a new chapter in over seven decade old constitutional history of the country by embarking on a major constitutional initiative over centre-state relations in consensus with both the allies of the NDA and as well as the opposition parties. The onus of playing a central role in establishing a strong system for centre-state relations in view of the present political arithmetic in the parliament lies on BJP’s coalition partners in the NDA at the centre.
