Congress MP Manish Tewari (File photo/PTI)
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday called for a discussion on whether there should be a new anti-defection law, saying the current composition of the Lok Sabha no longer reflects the mandate given by voters in the 2024 parliamentary elections.”The fundamental point is that in 2024, the people gave a mandate, and the Lok Sabha was constituted in accordance with that mandate. Today, two years later, the composition of the Lok Sabha is no longer in line with that mandate. It is contrary to the people’s mandate,” PTI quoted Tewari as saying.Speaking ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Tewari said the “foremost priority” of the session should be for Parliament to set aside other business and debate whether a new anti-defection law is needed.The Chandigarh MP stressed the need to curb the “opportunistic politics” often described as “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram”, where politicians switch parties without regard for ideological or policy differences.Tewari also emphasised the need to distinguish and address genuine ideological or policy disagreements.”A balance needs to be struck both inside and outside Parliament and state assemblies, because all these recent developments have worked to weaken Indian democracy,” he said. In recent days, two parties opposed to the ruling BJP — the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena (UBT) — have witnessed splits within their ranks, with some MPs either extending support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or joining parties already part of the NDA.In the TMC’s case, three of its Rajya Sabha MPs resigned from the party, joined the BJP, and were later re-elected as BJP candidates. Meanwhile, 20 of the TMC’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs merged their faction with the little-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India and extended support to the NDA.From Shiv Sena (UBT), six of its Lok Sabha MPs joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, reducing the Uddhav Thackeray-led party’s strength in the Lower House to three members.In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA won 293 seats in the 543-member House, including 240 seats secured by the BJP. The recent developments have further increased its numbers.
