Anti-defection law being used to engineer defection: Raghav Chaddha

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chaddha on Sunday moved the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Introducing the bill, he stated that the anti-defection bill is being 'used' to rupture the existing legal framework of containing the desires and political ambition of the elected candidates in this democracy. However, the nature of the leaders become such that they often choose to change their political affiliations to acheive their goals.

Chaddha who is an MP in the Upper House, while introduing the bill, said, "The anti-defection law which was formed to stop the game of changing political parties by elected candidates to come form the government. Today, it is being used to facilitate and engineer the defection process."

The AAP MP further moved the ammendment on the floor which was passed in a snap with the 'Ayes' pertaining in the vocal vote.

जिस तरह एजेंसियों और पैसे के दम पर देश भर में MLAs ख़रीदे जाते हैं, सरकारें तोड़ी जाती हैं, वो democracy के लिए ख़तरनाक है।

पिछले साल मैंने संसद में Anti-Defection Law को मज़बूत करने के लिए प्राइवेट मेम्बर बिल पेश किया था।

ये बिल आज लोकतंत्र को बचाने के लिए बहुत ज़रूरी है। pic.twitter.com/GjXThG6fHf

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) January 28, 2024

Maharashtra political crisis

One of the prime example is the Sena vs Sena controversy which took the entire nation on its toes. When, the MLAs of the now Uddhav-led Shiv Sena  moved in with Eknath Shinde who moved on to form a coalition government with the BJP in Maharashtra. The political drama lasted for sometime before it was put to bed by the Supreme Court resulting in Eknath Shinde's Sena being the original party.  

Bihar political stir: What happened?

Meanwhile, the bill was moved but it is happening at a time when the political corridors are brewing conspiracy in Bihar. The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government came to halt as the choef minister resigned on Sunday. He is set to form the government with BJP and allies in Bihar. He severed ties with the Tejashwi Yadav-led RJD. Meanwhile, as the tussle to retain the chair continued in Bihar, the nation took a breath and paused. 

However, hours after resigning and severing ties with Congress and RJD, he hasnow staked  the claim of forming the government once again. He went to meet Bihar's governor Rajendra Arlekar with BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vinod Tawde.