[Letter to President Mr R Venkataraman]

Summary

This letter, dated October 4, 1989, is addressed by M. R. Masani, Chairman of the Indian Liberal Group Executive Committee, to President R. Venkataraman. Masani revisits a proposal he made in August 1987: if the Prime Minister sought dissolution of Parliament, the President should also request the Cabinet’s resignation and appoint a caretaker government until new elections, following the suggestion of Rajaji. He argues that this course would help ensure free and fair elections, which he says are unlikely in the existing context.

Key points

• Masani asks the President to act on a proposal concerning the dissolution of Parliament.
• He recommends that the Cabinet resign and that a caretaker government administer the country until fresh elections.
• The proposal is presented as consistent with a suggestion attributed to Rajaji.
• Masani links a caretaker government to the prospect of free and fair elections.
• As an alternative, he asks President Venkataraman to ensure that Rajiv Gandhi’s Cabinet behaves strictly as a caretaker government after dissolution.
• The caretaker government should not initiate new policies, transfer officials, misuse government facilities, or take actions beyond routine administration.