By Dr. R. Balasubramaniam
Recently, one saw a mockery of the statement ‘first amongst equals’ in the State of Karnataka. Constitutionally, the head of Government is the Chief Minister at the State-level while the Prime Minister at the National-level. Convention demands that legislators of the party with a majority, meet and elect their leader who then takes over as the head of the Government. What we see happening across different States in India is the phenomenon that is today popularly called the ‘high command culture.’ Leaders of national parties sitting in Delhi decide on the leader of their State Legislature Party. Democracy, decency, dignity of the individual, people’s choice and decorum of office seem to be fashion statements used more often to justify actions rather than demonstrate conviction in them.
