Today the term democracy is widely understood as synonymous with “representative democracy”. Under the system people have a right to choose representatives through periodic elections based on the principles of universal adult franchaise (Article 326 of Indian Constitution). In order to participate in election process, the minimum age should be 18 years in our country.
A sound party system based on the ideological principles as we find in developed countries has not been developed in our country. There are so many hurdles in the party system which have weakened our democratic system. Organisational problem, widening gap between a party and its the workers, strong leadership crisis, political immorality and giving tickets to criminals in a party etc have polluted the political atmosphere in our country and undermined the political morality. We do not find members and political parties following political morality.
Here are a few examples to bring home the point.
In spite of passage of the Anti Defection Act 1985, the evil of defection is still in practice. Formation of new parties and breakaway groups is still continuing. In December 2003 , our Parliament has passed a law making amendment in the Anti Defection Act 1985 but defection has not been put under check; rather it has grown destabilising the basic essence of democratic values.
To make our parliamentary democracy a success , the evil of defection should be controlled permanently. Moreover, growing political corruption has patronised corruption in the administration and bureaucracy all over the country.
What is defection and what are its causes? Defection in politics means transfer of loyalty from one party to another for some personal gains or vested interests. When a representative after having been elected on the ticket of a party symbol leaves the party and joins another party in hope of getting some benefits, it is called defection. Defection is the opportunistic transfer of faith or loyalty to another party which is like a contagious disease ( Aya Ram, Gaya Ram) in our country. There are several factors responsible for the defection such as lack of proper leadership, lust for power, lack of ideological commitment and disobedience to the whip of the party high command etc.
Defection has very dangerous effects in the democratic paradigm of our country. It has fully corrupted and demoralised politics and spoiled our social values. The highest defect of defection is breach of faith with the electorate. A representative is elected on the symbol of a political party whose ideals and principles have been recognized by the voters at the time they elect the representative with the hope that he/she would represent their ideas till the next election. But if the representative shifts his affiliation just after getting elected, it’s like cheating of the voters and against the democratic principles. Also, in this way, the national interest stands ignored. It brings political instability from Panchayat level to Parliament and defames the sacred parliamentary system of democracy. In December 2003, the Indian Parliament passed a law making amendment in Anti Defection Act 1985 to check the unfair practice but this has not been effective in a larger perspective.
To conclude, the Central and State Election Commissions must be vigilant to stop defection by framing stringent rules by giving top priority to the sentiments of the voters. Under the present circumstances it is a crucial challenge to the Republic of Bharat.
(Writer Dr Ray is a former faculty, DMS, Regional Institute of Education, NCERT, Bhubaneswar and a professional in journalism and mass communication; Email: rdrayfreelancer@gmail.com)
