Bowled by a googly

Ananya.s.guha

18 June, 2012

This is an imaginary dialogue on the issue of Presidents and Prime Ministers, which has become a larger issue thanks to the views of some politicians.

I THINK there is a point in what the Chief Minister of West Bengal suggested,” my friend said.

Now, now, wat did she suggest . . . she has been saying a lot of things . . .” I replied, a little bored. “That Prime Ministers should be Presidents.”

“She didn’t say that,” I corrected. “She suggested that the present Prime Minister should be nominated as the President of India.”

“That is the specific instance,” my friend continued. But the larger, generalized suggestion is that why, that’s not a bad idea. If a Prime Minister becomes the President, then we will have experience, speeches will no longer have to be written or re-written, new wine in old bottles or vice versa . . .”

“Oh stop that,” I think this is a preposterous suggestion. You mean to say that Prime Ministers should be hoodwinked into the belief that they should be Presidents . . .”

He interrupted. “But they have wide experience in international, national affairs, it will simple switch over”.

“Stop that,” I shouted. “You are demeaning the sanctity of the Prime Minister’s position.”

“No no, not at all. I just thought that experience could be extended and the two positions should be interchangeable. Democracy should have flexibility you know.”

“After all,” he continued. “If they can think of making the Finance Minister President, then why not the Prime Minister?”

That was a googly.

I was bowled.