By Ishika
3rd July, 2023
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state in exchange for allegiance to another, changing sides in a way which is considered illegitimate by the first state.
Defection is the act of elected representatives switching their party affiliation after being elected to office. This is a major challenge to the stability of Indian democracy.
To address this challenge, the Indian government passed the Anti-Defection Law in 1985. The law makes it illegal for elected representatives to switch parties after being elected to office.
Despite the Anti-Defection Law, defection continues to be a major challenge in Indian politics. Elected representatives often switch parties for various reasons, including the promise of a ministerial position, dissatisfaction with the party leadership, and ideological differences.
Defection has a negative impact on Indian democracy as it leads to political instability, weakens the opposition, and undermines the mandate of the people.
As citizens of India, it is our responsibility to elect representatives who are committed to the principles of democracy and who will not switch parties for personal gain. We must hold our elected representatives accountable and demand transparency and accountability in our political system.