The Dhenkanal District Intellectual Association, which includes senior legal practitioners, has urged the Lok Sabha Speaker for a law to end pension and other facilities of MLAs and MPs, those are defecting from the parent political party to a ruling party.

Prof Dr Tusar Kanti Nayak of the association said that when a leader who has already been elected to the State Assembly  or Parlianent leaves his party and switches over to another party in power for sheer selfish reason, as a former MLA or MP he or she should not be allowed to enjoy pensionary and other benefits.

This is because, the concerned leader was enjoying all power and privileges while continuing as an elected representative under a party but when he defects to another party, after he fails to win elections under his parent party, he does it for own selfish interest. When he says he quit a parent party to join another to serve people, that is his sheer pretension and a ploy to cover up his personal gain that he eyes by his move, he said.  A nation faces a political turmoil due to such leaders engaged in unfair practice. Further, such activity also promotes corruption and horse trading, he said. The pension and other facilities given to a former MLA or MP was the gift of the parent political party. But, opportunist leaders instead of trying to bring their parent party again to power which had given them name and fame, interestingly lobby to join a ruling party when their own party is out of power. So such leaders should not enjoy their pension benefits, said members of the association.  The forum sent copies of their petition to the Prime Minister, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition.