Fixed term of Government

This is regarding the suggestion made by L K Advani that a government should have a 'fixed tenure' of 5 years and polls should be simultaneously held every 5 years in months of February.

Now the benefits are very obvious:

• Huge (I really mean huge) decrease in poll expenditure (both of EC and political parties)
• Better voting percentage (February weather along with voting once every 5 years will surely move many more voters out of their homes than now)

Although the benefits may be counted as 2, both of them will have a large scale effect on how government works. First of all model code of conduct days which very much limit governments options will be less. Secondly government will be able to focus more on managing the country instead of campaigning every now and then.

But here comes the problem. How do we really implement it?
Advani said that if a party loses majority then a next government should take over immediately. But what if (as is usually the case) no party has majority? It will lead to hell lot of horse trading with too much scope for corruption. Not a good option.
Also its but obvious that a minority government can hardly work.

Also he said that our government system was following that of Britain and India should adapt the system to its needs. Very well said but it would have been much better if he would have specified atleast some adaptations to atleast initiate a debate. Also I dont thing there is anything wrong with the system, Its just that parties are not good enough to get a majority.

One suggestion that I even gave before and that still can be done is:

• Completely de-link the role of MP with development of the constituency. MP should only be there to raise issues of national importance. Development should only be linked with the State government.
  

I know there can be several arguments against it (I can myself think of many) but still I fell this is one way that can help in improving the current scenario. I feel that all the things that affect day to day life of public should be subject of state. Also more tax should be levied by the state government and not by the central government.

I know that this can have many negative effects but it is one direction debate can be initiated in.

Till then am happy with the current system :)