End the culture of resort politics

Resort politics just isn’t new in India, neither is the defection of election candidates. Each have been within the lexicon of politics for many years, and regardless of feeble makes an attempt to verify them, have solely turn into extra pronounced. The newest spherical in Uttarakhand and Goa, enjoying out even earlier than outcomes are declared, signifies that even the fig leaf of ideology and occasion loyalty has been deserted. In addition they present how widespread the phenomenon is now — from state and nationwide polls to presidential and Rajya Sabha elections. This isn’t excellent news for a democracy, the place individuals select their representatives as a lot for his or her occasion affiliation as their particular person file. The anti-defection regulation, designed particularly to discourage such machinations, has been discovered wanting as lawmakers and political events have, repeatedly, discovered their manner round it. The specter of disqualification, which was alleged to be a powerful deterrent, seems to have little impression.

The sight of legislators or candidates being packed off in buses to luxurious resorts the place they’re held underneath the surveillance of senior leaders might have turn into commonplace nevertheless it doesn’t cease the development from being any much less dangerous to the well being of our democracy. It exhibits that lawmakers have scant respect for the selections of their constituents, who’ve chosen to repose their religion in a candidate. It exhibits that events and leaders too, have little religion within the integrity of their legislators and nominees, who they consider might be purchased off by cash, perks or threats. And, it highlights how huge troves of unregulated cash utilized in elections might be directed to nefarious functions, and the way little political will there may be throughout the spectrum to counteract this monetary hegemony. Free and honest elections might imply little if there’s no accountability after polls.