With 99 per sent of legislators getting elected by a minority of electors; with scores of them getting elected on 15-20 per cent of the votes cast that is, by 7-10 per cent of the population , how representative is our parliamentary system not induce political parties to go on splintering our people? Can the country cohere when the people are splintered? Are those in government accountable to parliament? Or are they the government precisely because they, and those who control them, control Parliament?

Arun Shourie is one of India's best known commentators on current and political affairs. He has been an economist with the World Bank, a consultant to the Planning Commission and Editor of The Indian Express. His writings have gained him a vast following across the country, as well as several national and international awards.