How often have we heard intellectuals and politicians say coalition governments at the Centre are the order of the day? That MPs must learn the culture of give and take that is needed for any workable coalition. That if states can run them successfully, then so should the Centre. And, finally, the ultimate western-educated liberal question: if the economy of post-war Italy could remain unaffected by the coming and going of innumerable coalition governments, then why should the annual chopping and changing affect India's reforms?