Election Spotlight
New Delhi, 26 March 2014
Season Of Political
Migrations
DEFECTORS RULE THE
ROOST
By Dr.S.Saraswathi
(Former Director,
ICSSR)
Come election time the country witnesses rampant seasonal
migration of politicians, groups and even Parties from their present
affiliation to another. Mostly career politicians they are willing to fit into
any robe based on media poll forecasts, opinion surveys and public perceptions.
Importantly as the defection drama reaches its climax, not
many are aware that the Anti Defection Law is not applicable on these turncoats
as the rule pertains to only elected members and thus does not invite legal
action.
Pertinently, the regulation comes into operation only in
cases of “floor-crossing” – a term that originated in the British House of Commons. Winston Churchill literally crossed the floor
to leave the Conservative Party and join the Liberal Party in 1904 and again
re-crossed the floor to return to the Conservative Party in 1924. Hence, the
term “floor-crossing”.
Recall, during the seventies, India witnessed a mushroom growth of
Aya Rams and Gaya Rams at the Centre
and States necessitating Parliament to pass the Anti-Defection Law in 1985, incorporated
as 10th Schedule of the Constitution. However, the law allows mass defections i.e. if
one-third members of a Party breaks away.
True, democratic societies cannot promote autocratic Party
systems as individual members should have the freedom to choose their Party
affiliations or membership and freedom to change their choices. No association can put fetters on the free
movement of its members.
Such changes are part of freedom and democracy, but at
times, become unprincipled political opportunism. In fact, changing Party affiliation after
election amounts to cheating the voters.
Also, several cases of defections are prompted not by political
convictions but out of bargaining for individual and group advantages to cause
political instability.
Significantly, this problem is common in many countries
wherein restrictions are put in various forms like requiring the concerned person
to serve as an independent member. In
some countries like Australia,
Parties take a pledge from its members to support the collective decisions of
the organization.
Moreover, pre-poll defection is euphemistically called
re-alignment of political leaders/Parties. This phenomenon is gaining momentum
today in view of the prevailing climate favoring yet another coalition Government
at the Centre post poll. Especially against the backdrop that it is a “do or
die” battle for those in the fray.
Naturally, candidates and Parties are weaning towards the group or Party
which appears to be in the forefront.
This is not all. Even Parties which once shunned alliances are
in search of partners. The politics of
breaking Parties is being played openly wherein ideologically polarized Parties
feel no hesitation in coming together on the pretext of fighting a common enemy,
pictured as the nation’s misfortune.
Undeniably, alliances are not based on ideological affinity.
The motivating force is pure arithmetic ---- the 272 + seats target for the two
major contenders BJP and Congress to rule. For others, the ambition is to acquire a place
as “king-maker” read effective voice in Government formation if there is a ‘hung’
Parliament after elections.
In this scenario, even a one-member Party stands to be
elevated and empowered to dictate terms to the principal coalition partner by
constantly threatening to withdraw support.
Notwithstanding, Mahatma Gandhi underscoring the seven
social sins in social, economic, political and religious life in an article in Young India during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
The first, he wrote is: “Politics without principles”. Sadly, he died before he could witness the steady
degeneration of Indian politics after Independence.
Gone are the days of Acharya Narendra Dev who gave up his
seat when he left the Congress in 1948 though there was no law against
defection at that time. In the present context, when victory is the one and only goal of electoral
politics and survival in power the only object
of minority and coalition Governments, principled
politics is a luxury and has become irrelevant and unwise.
A sub-field of electoral politics, where principles are conspicuously
absent, is choosing friends and partners.
Instant friends are made and long-time associates separate in
pre-election politics. The doors of Parties
are wide open to accommodate anyone and everyone from anywhere and
everywhere. Thus, sworn enemies can join
hands overnight.
Neither the Congress-led UPA nor the BJP-led NDA has managed
to retain its constituents and remain in tact.
Both have lost some important allies consequently Mission
272+ is not an easy target for either of them. Add to this, their potential
individual strength is far below the mark.
Rewind to 2004, the Congress did not form a national
alliance to contest the election and instead forged State-level agreements with
the DMK in Tamil Nadu, NCP in Maharashtra, National Conference in Kashmir, JMM
in Jharkhand, All India Majlis-e -littehadul Muslimen, Republican Party of
India (Athvale), Sikkim Democratic Front, Indian Union Muslim League, and
Trinamool Congress in West Benegal.
After elections, Mulayam’s Samajwadi Party, Mayawati’s BSP, Laloo’s
RJD and Gowda’s Janata Dal (S) --- who were part of the Third and Fourth Fronts
promised outside support to the UPA.
Besides these, several small Parties too pledged unconditional support.
The BJP-led NDA included Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in
Maharashtra, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (U) in Bihar, Badal’s Akali Dal in
Punjab, Chautala’s INLD in Haryana, Mahanta’s AGP in Assam, Ajit Singh’s RLD in
UP and Nagaland People’s Front.
The Third Front led by the Left Parties included the AIADMK,
TDP, TRS, MDMK, PMK, All India Forward Block, and Revolutionary Party.
As things stand today both the Congress and BJP are
experiencing politically effective changes vis-à-vis
realignment of forces. The Grand Dame has
lost the DMK in Tamil Nadu without winning any new ally in the State. The TRS
which provided great hope in Andhra and was the guide for the Congress’s Telengana
policy has rejected not only moves to merge but also declined any electoral
alliance as an unprofitable proposition.
The Congress in the Seemandhra region is presently a divided
house. Other steadfast friends like the
NCP and NC are also keeping Sonia-Rahul in suspense by making unfriendly
gestures and issuing inconsistent statements.
The NDA has lost its two-decade old ally JD(U) and has not
gained dependable allies. Old allies, AIADMK
and Trinamool are enjoying their position as State-level masters with immense
potential for playing a decisive role in Government formation at the Centre
post poll and are keeping their options open.
For them, a pre-election alliance has no attraction as their power lies
in post-poll manipulations.
The new entrant, Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party which can afford to exhibit a superiority complex
as a Party uncontaminated by power, is bound to safeguard its image and keep
away from all Parties as it cannot be party to the politics of alliances. Even as it welcomes and can absorb acceptable
individual migrants.
In sum, with over 1,000 Parties, registered and unregistered,
representing diversities, pre-election migrations highlight that there is no
permanent or sharp political divide which will be reflected in Government
formation. Given that coalitions can be
formed, dissolved and re-formed with different combinations of the same
units. This might make Governments
unstable, but would make the nation stable! ---- INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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