• What kind of Constitutional changes would you want?

When we talk of a federal philosophy, it should not be a mere alliance of parties as we now have, but it should be a genuine partnership among the constituent states. The states should have autonomy in administering their own affairs and this principle should be enshrined in the Constitution. All states must have equal rights, and the Centre should not be an overlord. It should be one in which all states are partners with equal rights and powers. The Centre should not have any superfluous power and all residuary powers should be transferred to the states. However, in the present system, we have only alliances between various regional parties based on numerical majority or minority. It is merely a coalition government if some 10 people come together; it is not genuine federalism. In Tamil Nadu, in a sense, we can say we have a coalition government.

• Can you say that in English, just this, that you stand for a federal government. Not just a coalition?

Yes, federalism.

• From what I understand, you mean that you would like the Constitution to be modified or amended in such a way that the idea of a federal government is institutionalised, so that parties from various states can get together and form a government, not necessarily in a numbers-based coalition, as now. Which means, Sir, that irrespective of who gets how many numbers elsewhere, one party from Tamil Nadu, the leading party from Tamil Nadu, the leading party from Karnataka, the leading party from Punjab, the leading party from Maharashtra, Gujarat and so forth should have a share in the Cabinet. Is that what you mean?

... contd.