YES

Breach of trust

One votes for a candidate based on the political party he or she stands for. When, after being elected, this representative shifts loyalties to another party, it is an attack not only on democracy but also on the faith of those who voted for him or her.

Agnidhro Ganguly,

Third year, Techno Main Salt Lake, Calcutta

Foes or friends?

We see many political leaders change political affiliations and goals and wear garlands from the very person they used to blame once on stage. Where is the loyalty? Where is the unity? If there is no unity within a party, how will a country with such diverse kinds of people be run democratically by it? A stronger anti-defection law is needed for such leaders.

Shreyasee Dutta,

Class XII, B.E. College Model School, Howrah

Prevent disruptions

We have seen a lot of people change political parties at the last moment. People following them all along are left devastated. It also disrupts the trust that the party had been working with. More complex clauses are needed in the law to prevent people from switching parties at whim, to make them think before switching.

Anuron Mullik,

Fourth year, Narula Institute of Technology, Calcutta

Weak panacea

The anti-defection law was meant to be a panacea but stands reduced to a mere document and a point of debate. Stringent approach and implementation is needed to strengthen the pillars of democracy, which is in crisis now, thereby establishing a government truly for the people, by the people and of the people.

Aditya Jaiswal,

First year, BA LLB, department of law, Calcutta University, Calcutta

Prevent and punish

Electoral victory does not refer to the successful acquisition of a seat only. It comes with a mandate to effect the policies the party outlines in its manifesto. Elections are not a battle of political representation but the manifestation of a conscious choice made by the electorate. So, defection is tantamount to an overruling of the popular mandate, thereby demeaning the very essence of democracy. That can’t be permitted or justified. Currently, defections cases are often followed by delays and denials. Forget legal repercussions, the spineless, power-hungry thugs are often rewarded with tickets. Hence, a stronger anti-defection law is the need of the hour to punish as well as to prevent such disloyalties.

Aastha Agarwal,

Second year, MA, St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta

NO

Improve implementation

The anti-defection law has been framed quite well, it is the flaws in its implementation that are weakening it. Instead of respecting the spirit of the law, political parties are just following it in letter. They are also abusing the law to scrape together a majority.

Shreya Bhagat,

First year, BCom, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha

Diversity matters

I think the anti-defection law is strong enough. Any stronger and it would be strangling democracy instead of strengthening it. If all the power of decisions rest with only the top leadership of a party and MPs and MLAs do not have much say in the matter, diverse opinions and ideas will stop flowing. And a democracy thrives only when there is diversity.

Arijit Paul,

Class X, The Newtown School, Calcutta