MP Raghav Chadha introduces Constitution Amendment Bill, 2022, in Rajya Sabha to prevent 'Resort Politics'

Seeking an amendment in the Constitution to make elected representatives more accountable to the people, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s MP Raghav Chadha on Friday today introduced a Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the Rajya Sabha.

The amendment bill proposes that if any MP or MLA changes their party after winning the election, then he would be banned from contesting elections for 6 years. Likewise, to prevent ‘Resort Politics’, MLAs and MPs will have to appear in front of the speaker within 7 days of withdrawing support to a government. If any MLA or MP is unable to do so, they should be disqualified, states the Amendment bill.

The Bill also seeks to increase the existing threshold for merger of members of a legislature party to another party, from 2/3rd to 3/4th of the members , in order to avoid disqualification. This provision is necessary due to growing instances of anti-defection in smaller states where the strength of the house ranges from 30 to 70, Chadha said in a statement.

“India had adopted the Westminster System of representative democracy followed in Britain in the formation of our Legislatures. Therefore, there is a urgent need to amend the Constitution, ” Chadha said in a statement.

Chadha said that his Bill, is also proposing a further disqualification of 6 years from the date a member is disqualified under the Tenth Schedule. Through the introduction of such a provision, the legislators who indulge in horse trading and dishonor the mandate of the electorate shall be debarred from contesting a by-election and getting re-elected.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2022 will act as a reformative measure whereby members will be exempted from the whip system except in cases of No Confidence Motion, he said.