Respect fractured mandates, try coalition politics: Experts

As fresh Delhi Assembly polls seem imminent, constitutional experts say it is the responsibility of political parties to show responsible behaviour and work toward finding a solution to fractured mandates.

While a mid-term polls holds the hope of a clear mandate or realignment of political forces, experts have also started talking of ushering in the politics of coalition in the city to save it from an expenditure of crores of rupees on elections.

Former Delhi Assembly secretary S K Sharma, who has also worked for 45 years in Lok Sabha secretariat, said, “There is no guarantee of a clear mandate in fresh elections.”

Another former Delhi Assembly secretary P N Mishra said, “Let’s hope the outcome of a fresh election would be more conducive for government formation.”

Sharma also criticised the unwillingness of all the three parties to end the impasse in the hung Assembly. “Common minimum programmes are the way out for such situations.”

“Why can’t the three parties set terms on which they would support a government?” said Sharma, adding that the electorate’s fractured mandate should be honoured.

‘Help each other’

“As a student of Constitution, I would suggest that while ordering a fresh election Jung should take a sort of assurance from the BJP, the AAP and the Congress that in case of another fractured mandate they will look to help or take help of others to give an elected government to people,” said Sharma.

Mishra said a fresh election is the most suitable solution for ending the deadlock.
“Hopefully, some party would get a clear majority or there would be a realignment of forces to lead to a stable government formation,” he said.

On the time frame of the possible mid-term poll, Mishra said he did expect them to take place in December.

“Electoral roll revision and security assessment take time,” he said.

Sharma concurred. “In constitutional matters, there can be no time frame. The process may take weeks. The President is the final authority on dissolving the Assembly and the Election Commission and the Centre will decide on the poll dates.”

“My view is that there would be at least one month’s gap between dissolution of the Assembly and the election date,” said Sharma.

After consultations with the BJP, the AAP and the Congress, Jung on Monday sent a recommendation to President Pranab Mukherjee to dissolve the House and pave the way for fresh elections.

Jung’s recommendations followed his attempts to see if a government could be formed in the present scenario in which the BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal combine has 29 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

The Aam Aadmi Party, the second largest party, has 27 legislators, the Congress has eight members and there are three others. Three seats are vacant.