The speed at which political statements of doubtful veracity acquire the aura of gospel truth is astonishing. One such “truth” is: coalition compulsions impede economic reforms. Even Chief Economic Advisor Kaushik Basu believes in it. He recently said, “Thanks to coalitional democracy, there is some slowdown in economic reforms and decision-making.” A few weeks earlier, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had expressed similar views: “With a fractured mandate, yes, you can rule. But you have to carry other people with you.