Addressing Regional Fragmentation: A Blueprint for National Cohesion

India's unity is under threat due to regionalism and misrule, a problem not limited to West Bengal. Frequent imposition of President's Rule to address such issues is no longer a sustainable solution. It is time for fundamental reforms to centralize governance and ensure that merit and national interests are prioritized over regional agendas. This article proposes a blueprint to address these issues and foster a unified India.

The Consequences of Misrule and Regionalism

Politicians across India often exploit regionalism to gain support. They create divisions and then leverage appeasement tactics to secure loyalty, aided by populist policies like freebies. However, this comes at a significant cost to the average Indian, whose voice can be marginalized through institutional or mob violence. The system, which has historically perpetuated division, has led to situations such as in JK, where peace and progress have only been achieved when there is a clear will and power to maintain order.

Reform Proposals for National Mandate

To address these systemic issues, reforms at the national level are crucial. The current election system, which supports regional elections, is inefficient and impractical. Holding numerous local elections nationwide is both logistically challenging and resource-intensive. As a result, a simpler system is proposed, where the Prime Minister (PM) is elected based on a national mandate. This single PM, along with 40 state leaders chosen by national mandate, would form the cabinet. The remaining winners would become Chief Ministers (CM) of different states.

This proposal has several key benefits:

Meritocracy: The system ensures that candidates are selected based on merit rather than regional, religious, language, or caste factors. This aligns the government with the national interest rather than regional or parochial interests. National Unity: By centralizing governance, it strengthens the national unity, preventing fragmentation that has historically led to the decline of regions like Bangladesh. Efficiency: National mandate ensures that elected members are highly accountable to their constituents, reducing the likelihood of anarchy and ensuring progress. Utilization of Expertise: Highly skilled individuals, such as retired CEOs, industry leaders, and researchers, can contribute to the advisory team. Their expertise can be leveraged in crucial areas like economic policy, education, research, technology development, and infrastructure. Reduction of Violence: With stronger central governance, mob violence and regional conflicts are likely to decrease, promoting a more stable political environment. Curbing Corruption: The system eliminates the need for local election machinery, which can be susceptible to corruption, leading to a more corruption-free governmental structure.

Risks and Mitigations

While this system offers many benefits, it also poses risks. For instance, it carries the potential for autocracy, as elected members would have significant power. However, the power of the public vote lies in the ability to punish underperformance or corruption through regular elections.

Additionally, it is important to address the risk of religious, regional, or caste-based divisions affecting the political scene. By centralizing governance, such divisions are less likely to arise, as the focus would be on national interests rather than local or sectarian ones.

Conclusion

The path to a unified India lies in strong central governance and merit-based selection of leaders. By moving away from frequent presidential rule and implementing a national mandate system, India can foster a more cohesive and progressive nation. The proposed reforms are not just an alternative to regionalism but a necessary step towards ensuring that all Indians have a voice and that the country progresses.

The time for reform is now. With these changes, India can nurture a political system that values unity, merit, and progress over division and exploitation.