Spirit of Federalism

Spirit of Federalism

The long-standing friction between the two major political parties in Delhi is likely to get aggravated with the passing and implementation of The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Bill gives more powers to the Lieutenant governor(LG). Further, It is against the principle of representative democracy.

What is Federalism?

Federalism is a mixed or compound mode of government that combines a general government (the central or "federal" government) with regional governments in a single political system.

Its distinctive feature, first embodied in the Constitution of the United States of 1789, is a relationship of parity between the two levels of government established.

It can thus be defined as a form of government in which powers are divided between two levels of government of equal status.

What is the Spirit of Federalism?

The issue of India’s federal nature has been both a subject of reiteration and conflict between the ruling party and the opposition. There have been instances when the opposition parties accused the Centre of violating the federal spirit through political and economic means, and there have been cases when the Centre alleged that the State regimes did not adhere to it.

A Chief Minister refusing to take a call from the Prime Minister, another Chief Minister blocking a central probe agency from functioning in his State, the use of (or the threat to invoke) Article 356 by the Centre — these have all been instances where conflict between the Centre and the States on federalism, over the years, broke out.

There is no doubt that every political party and politician swears by the spirit of federalism, and terms such as ‘competitive federalism’ and ‘cooperative federalism’ are in fashion.