Legislative Coups And The Tenth Schedule
Published on: 14 August 2020, 02:22 pm
"It is my firm conviction that it is not the Constitution which has failed the people but it is our chosen representatives who have failed the Constitution."
-Nani Palkhivala
"There are facilities available even for a heart transplant, but this syndrome of political defections is yet to find a remedy."
– Atal Bihari Vajpayee
One of the most vibrant democracies in the world is in India. It has an array of political parties across the ideological spectrum, both at the national and regional spheres, that compete for representation in legislative bodies.
However, political participation does not come unaccompanied with its vices, chiefly being horse-trading and defection. Crossing the floor of the House by members has become a common feature in the Indian political and legislative landscape. Such acts committed by Members in their quest for monetary benefits, position and power not only betrays the trust of the electorate but also defeats the spirit of constitutional morality.
The recent developments in Rajasthan have raised an important issue of dissent expressed by MLAs without members giving up membership of their political party. The brewing political discontent saw the Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly entertain a complaint under paragraph 2 of Tenth Schedule by the Chief Whip of the Congress Legislative Party against the members who had failed to attend a meeting called by the Chief Whip.
