Two recent observations of the Supreme Court have the potential of being a game changer in Indian politics, with regard to the power of the speaker in determining questions of defection resulting in the disqualification of a member of the legislature. These two observations are analysed and their significance in the anti-defection jurisprudence is assessed. The ubiquitous relationship between the anti-defection jurisprudence and the tenets of inner-party democracy needs to be understood, especially against the backdrop of recent political events where significant upheavals have taken place within party set-ups across the political spectrum.
Defection and re-election of the members of the legislative assembly in Karnataka is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s larger strategy in the state. This strategy aims to broad-base the party across castes and communities and ensure its autonomy from being dependent on any of them. In the face of this strategy, the Congress has the challenge of defining its social identity.
