Does India have an elected or nominated PM?

But Gandhi remained steadfast. "I have listened to your views, your pain and anguish at the decision I have taken. I am aware that I am causing anguish to you also, but I think you should trust me, allow me to take my decision," she said. Some MPs said they would rather resign than be not led by Gandhi.

"You cannot betray the people of India," said Aiyar. "The inner voice of the people of India says that you have to become the prime minister of India." Kapil Sibal said: "Unless you are there, our inspiration will not be there."

At the height of the wail of the please-madam Soniaites, the constitution of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) was amended. A post of a chairperson more powerful than the CPP leader was created. Gandhi was then elected to this post "ensuring that Manmohan Singh would take over as PM essentially as the CPP chairperson's nominee". For details, Rasheed Kidwai's Sonia: A Biography is recommended.

Clause 5 of the CPP constitution was amended and sub-clause C added. The amended clause now reads: "The chairperson shall have the authority to name the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party to head the Government, if necessary." Following this, the chairperson proposed the name of Manmohan Singh as CPP leader, clearing the way for his appointment as prime minister. This amendment ensured that the CPP chairperson could nominate the prime minister. Another sui generis situation: It is not the lack of support from the Congress Parliamentary Party but loss of trust of the chairperson of the CPP that could have cost the incumbent prime minister his job in the last ten years.

Why is this significant? Two reasons at least. First, this embodies a new system, a political experiment of dyarchy, a nominated prime minister expected to run the government without having the political authority for hard decisions or the ability to challenge the chairperson. What is even more important, the person nominated under the chairperson's powers after the amendment was selected precisely to serve at the pleasure of the chairperson. Other possible candidates with a much longer grounding and experience in the political life of the party and the country could be and were ignored.