पोलिटिशियन एस होर्स tradars-------इंग्लिश में

EDITS | Monday, November 16, 2009 | Print | Close


Politicians as horse traders

Sat Pal

Despite the enforcement of the Anti-Defection Law, there has been no let-up in the cases of defection in our polity. The menace of defection was conceived in the then newly carved-out State of Haryana in 1967 whose image was maligned due to coining of the phrase “Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram” after a certain MLA changed loyalties many times in a single day. This happened not due to any ideological differences but horse-trading.

This continued for years together, resulting in the downfall of a number of State Governments and the emergence of Chief Ministers who have had tenures of a week, days and even single days. Thank god there has been no record of any Chief Minister holding charge for few hours. It was an era of instability, uncertainty and chaos. There was even an instance when the Supreme Court intervened to order a trial of strength which paved the way for the exit of a day-old Chief Minister. There used to be numerous undesirable theatrics by certain so-called democratic elements on the eve of trial of strength in State Assemblies. Defections became a daily menace, fracturing our democratic institutions and moral values.

We still remember ‘Bharat Yatras’ being organised by dissident leaders to prevent their flock of MLAs from being lured away by money power. We have not forgotten when Chief Ministers along with all their ministerial colleagues and MLAs turned coats overnight to take side with the ruling alliances at the Centre. This has happened in Sikkim, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh. Even Governments at the Centre have become victims of defection twice. Defections are still in the news. The motives are similar, although these are no more a reason for instability.

Anyhow, a few political parties are scared that unabated defections may make them extinct. It is a coincidence that a political party in Malyasia is also afraid of defections by their elected representatives due to lucrative offers by the ruling party. The Opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party has told its elected representatives that they will have to divorce their life partners in case they defect. This has provided it with an adhesive that is keeping its flock intact.

But we are afraid if this sort of condition is enforced in our country many elected representative would happily switch political loyalties as that would help them get rid of their spouses! Which only shows the rot that has set in.


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