Speaking at a function organised by the National Forum for Presidential Democracy (NFPD), former chief justice of India Justice PN Bhagwati said that the Westminster model of democracy followed by us is degenerating. "People have started thinking about replacing this system with presidential democracy which is found to be more successful in countries including America," he added.

Justice Bhagwati, who is also one of the architects of lok adalats, called for more participation from youths who, he felt, lack the enthusiasm which was visible during the freedom struggle when mere a call from Mahatama Gandhi would see thousands of students join the fight for independence.

According to former union minister Chimanbhai Mehta, the presidential democracy which is followed in the United States would bring in political stability, much requiredfor carrying out reforms. "In India, 275 members of parliament select the head of the nation while in presidential democracy this leader will be selected by 60 crore people. The difference in selection will be clearly visible if the latter option is available to us," he said.

According to Mehta, who is also the national convener of NFPD, lack of transparency, corruption and casteism are the products of parliamentary democracy. "Only in parliamentary democracy we can have Rabri Devi ruling Bihar or leaders having only 10 to 12 seats in the parliament becoming the prime ministers," he added. "Parliamentary democracy has served its purpose for five decades but India is not United Kingdom (from where the system is borrowed)," said Mehta, adding that presidential democracy is the answer for India in the new millennium.

Jashwant B Mehta, co-convener, NFPD, said that political instability has become an endemic feature of the Indian polity, which is the direct result of current system.

"Parliamentary democracryhas yielded in the last nine years four Lok Sabha elections and seven prime ministers who held the reins of the government for very brief period," he said.

According to him, time has come to switch to a better democratic alternative in the form of a truly democratic presidential system, with necessary checks and balances. Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Chitnis, Dean, University of Mumbai, said presidential democracy can not only end the regionalism but bring about stability of government and consistency in economic policies.

According to former vice-president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Krishna Mani, the preamble and various Supreme Court judgments (Keshavananda Bharti's case) have a provision for introducing presidential democracy. The president of the Indian Merchants' Chamber and advocate YP Trivedi said that a debate should be initiated by the elite for bringing in presidential democracy in the country.