Addressing mediapersons on Sunday, Kumar said the legislation was introduced to prevent elected representatives from switching parties for personal or political gain and to ensure stability in governments. However, he said the law in its present form was no longer effective and there was no adequate check on “horse trading”.
He said the current framework contained loopholes, adding while action is often taken when an individual legislator defects, accountability weakens when a group switches sides together.
Using an analogy, he said that if theft occurs in an individual household, punishment is certain, but if an entire house is looted, no one is held accountable.
Kumar also expressed concern over what he described as a steady decline in political standards in the country, which he said had raised questions about the survival of democratic values. He reiterated his long-standing support for value-based politics centred on service, honesty and commitment to public welfare, saying this had increasingly been replaced by power and personal ambition.
Referring to the pre-Independence era, he said politics at the time was driven by patriotism and sacrifice, citing freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh who laid down their lives without expecting rewards or positions. In contrast, he said present-day politics was increasingly influenced by money power and self-interest.
He appealed to leaders across political parties to rise above narrow interests and work collectively to strengthen the anti-defection law. Stronger provisions, he said, were needed to ensure accountability and respect the mandate of voters.
Kumar added that democracy could remain healthy only when elected representatives uphold moral values, transparency and commitment to the people they serve.
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