Kalyani University, Nadia, West Bengal.
In this paper, an attempt has been made to provide an analytical filing system for storing our rich and varied experience gained over time with the working of a Westminster type of parliamentary democracy in a federal state as India is. A taxonomic approach to issues, parties, their alliances etc., it is hoped would shed light on the working mechanism of such a system. The focus of the paper is positive, on what could happen rather than what should happen. In particular, the conditions are enumerated under which in a multiparty framework a viable government (a) could be formed (b) would remain stable and (c) could and would continue an identical policy of national importance followed by earlier government(s). Apparently, such conditions are necessary for pursuing a consistent policy (say, of economic reform) on a sustained basis. A discussion on the possible impact of alternative political arrangements on the pace and direction of economic reform as well as political corruption and good governance is appended at the end of this paper.
