Debate on the need to regulate Politicians who defect before Polls

Whether there should be a law to regulate the Leaders who change their parties just before the elections? Or, we should just ignore it as their personal decision?

Vijaya Singh: A law is needed. You cannot jump from one place to another just before the elections. A time frame of six months is needed.

Jagannath Satapathy: Everything is fair in love and war prevailing from time immemorial known as Bibhishanas. But, yes for a healthy democracy, changing party at the time of election is a gross injustice to the electorate. Politicians do switch sides and ideologies for personal benefits, which is wrong. But, it’s difficult to regulate this in a diversified and complex country like India.

Bhawani Mahapatra: A leader not only represents a mass to a house but at the same time he carries the faith, trust, emotions & aspirations of the people who elect him. Ordinary voters cast their votes mostly on people’s perception or media made image while others on party, caste or community affiliation. But when they found their leaders to be more concerned for their own career, they feel cheated. People love NS Siddhu more as a cricketer, a celebrity, statesman and a man of integrity than a BJP worker. Two years ago, he took on the Congress, its leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi in such a manner that it’s difficult for us to see Siddhu bowing down before the latter. Same thing happened with Bhupinder Singh in Odisha. I strongly believe that there should be a time limit for a leader who wishes to change the party before going to contest a election.

Simanchala Mishra: These turncoat politicians are mostly punished by the voters and lose political weight in the new party. We cannot curb the freedom of an individual to join any party of his choice. Yes, of course there should be a complete ban on change of party after winning the election on a particular symbol. Even, there should be no provision of defection, may it be 2/3 or 3/4. In that case, all the defectors should lose membership.

Sudhi Ranjan Jeet: It’s their personal decision.

Susanta Sahoo: Ha ha ha, what is law?

Tusarkanta Satapathy: Lock in period should be there.

Dipti Ranjan Jena: I feel it should not be regulated because the parties represent the people and the leaders are elected by the people; so any shuffling among party – Leader – People are democratically interlinked. So whatever happens within the parties, leaders are ultimately mandated by the people either by selection or election or consultation. If any law tries to regulate, that may lead to a direct clash with other fundamental rights of people.

Bibhu Mohapatra: No need of regulation because people vote for political parties not individual candidates.

Umasankar Sahu: Many political parties have two teams. Both factions try to outwit each other and get the nod from the supremo. If they fail, they either contest as Independent or join another party. We can’t punish deserving candidates in this case. Rather, we should leave it to the people to decide their fate and make the right choice. We may not need politicians to be regulated by a law.