Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) admits that the Constitution of India is the supreme law of India, which we have amended from time to time to further improve the democratic framework in the larger interest of the Nation and the Citizens.
Shrawankumar Malu – President of VTA said, however situation of Government formation after Assembly Polls in Maharashtra recently has brought shame to democratic setup wherein political parties after going for elections in the alliance are breaking ties after poll results for their political mileage.
Tejinder Singh Renu – Secretary of VTA said, VTA claims such a situation as nothing less than cheating the voters, who cast their valuable vote to support any particular party or alliance following particular ideologies and when such alliance breaks up in order to join opposition for Government formation. And if an appropriate amendment is not carried, we may see a drastic drop in voting percentage in future elections, as many will never go to vote.
Taking this issue in public interest a delegation of VTA led by its president Shrawankumar Malu met Dr. Sanjeev Kumar – Divisional Commissioner, submitted a memorandum and held a detailed discussion. Similarly, the memorandum demanding amendment in the 10th Schedule of the Constitution is also dispatched to Ramnath Kovind – President of India, Vankaiah Naidu – Chairman Rajya Sabha, Om Birla – Chairman Lok Sabha, Narendra Modi – Prime Minister and Justice Sharad Bobde – Chief Justice of India.
There is steady deterioration in the standards, practices and pronouncements of the political class, which contest elections. Money-Muscle power, corrupt practices and unfair means are being freely employed to come in or retain power. Over the years, several measures have been taken by Parliament to amend the laws relating to elections with a view to give an accountable and stable government.
Taking clue from the present situation prevailing in State of Maharashtra post results of 2019 Assembly Elections, calls for urgent need to amend provisions of anti-defection law in the Constitution of India to eliminate future back-stabbing to the voters (common man) by political parties also to restore the faith/confidence of citizens in electoral form of governance.
Adv Sanjay K. Agrawal suggested that amending 10th Schedule of Constitution of India so as to treat the parties to pre-election alliance/coalition as one political party and defection of a member of such constituent party of the pre-election alliance/coalition or of the constituent party as a whole from the pre-election alliance/coalition should be treated as defection attracting the provision of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India. Which is also recommended by Law Commission of India in its 170th Report submitted in May 1999.
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar appreciated the concern raised by VTA and agreed to forward the memorandum with appropriate remarks to the Government. Also present in VTA delegation were J. P. Sharma – IPP, Hemant Trivedi – VP, Amarjit Singh Chawla, Rajesh Kanoongo – Jt. Secretaries, Harmanjeet Singh Baweja and Rohit Kanoongo.
