The Hindu : National : Coalitions are here to stay, says Somnath

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Saturday, Jul 01, 2006

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Coalitions are here to stay, says Somnath

Special Correspondent

Indian democracy is time-tested, he says

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Friday asserted that coalitions have come to stay in India. "It is a learning experience for us. For over a decade we are experimenting with coalitions at the Centre. And the results are fairly successful."

Mr. Chatterjee said this during his interaction with German leaders in Berlin, Germany. He said democracy in India was time tested.

"There should not be any doubts about its efficacy. The people of our country have changed the Government in the Centre, through peaceful means, 6 out of 14 times they went to vote. In a vast country like ours, where elections are held at regular intervals for electing the members of Parliament, various State legislatures and local bodies, people's enthusiasm for democracy is being reflected through increase in vote percentage with every passing elections," Mr. Chatterjee said.

Berlin State Parliament president Walter Momper, who led the delegation comprising the leaders of various parliamentary parties, described the developments taking place in India as fascinating, a Lok Sabha secretariat release said here.

The Indian delegation also had an interaction with members of the Germany-India Parliamentary Friendship Group.

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