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Season Of Political Migrations: DEFECTORS RULE THE ROOST, By Dr.S.Saraswathi, 26 March, 2014 Print E-mail

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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