PARTLY FACETIOUS: President has few powers but a hell of a lot of protocol

“Nature abhors a vacuum.”

“Indeed it does and this is a maxim that is understood very well by our politicians. The constitution provides for a temporary or a permanent backup for all constitutional offices held.”

“Hmm so if the President goes then…”

“The President has few powers but a hell of a lot of protocol, free food and electricity and a really nice house with great views.”

“Don’t be facetious – no one moves into the house itself.”

“True but perhaps a constitutional amendment…”

“Shush.”

“Anyway if the Prime Minister goes abroad then the most senior federal minister takes over.”

“How do you determine who is the senior most? Is it by age or someone who has been the longest serving federal minister though that would mean nearly the 40 to 50 plus strong cabinet and…”

“Stop it, you have a deputy prime minister and if truth be told he has shown a keen interest in holding that office even if it’s for an interim period and this dream has not yet been met and…”

“That’s not likely, the guy shadows the prime minister wherever he goes.”

“Is that part of the samdhi terms of reference?”

“I am warning you, anyway so if the deputy goes with the prime minister then who will officiate as the prime minister during our prime ministers’ frequent foreign tours?”

“I propose a constitutional amendment. The acting prime minister can be the senior most federal minister as identified by the prime minister…”

“That is a sure shot recipe for the entire cabinet, minus one, discontent.”

“You didn’t let me finish – or any of the chief ministers be nominated as…”

“Right, let that be the twenty-eighth constitutional amendment: the chief minister of any province with a luxury plane in its arsenal.”

“For your information it doesn’t matter if the prime minister is out of the country with his deputy – have you forgotten that with the latest communication revolution there is no need for the physical presence of the prime minister. He can be anywhere in the world and still be able to issue directives…”

“Or take them.”

“That too, i.e., is the directive issuer is not accompanying him on the foreign tour.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026