Floor Crossing Indian Constitution
But the constitution of india can survive this assault.
Floor crossing indian constitution. In bangladesh in the year 1972 our constitution makers incorporated article 70 which is designed to prevent floor crossing in the parliament. Floor crossing was a system introduced to the post apartheid south african political system in 2002 under which members of parliament members of provincial legislatures and local government councillors could change political party or form a new party and take their seats with them when they did so floor crossing in south africa was abolished in january 2009. This law is found in countries like india pakistan bangladesh nepal sri lanka malaysia etc. This was an anti defection or anti floor crossing law 3.
Anti floor crossing law in neighboring countries. And in doing so we will hope that other institutions which are sought to be bullied and undermined stand together and uphold the rule of law. In a parliamentary system like india floor crossing to the opposition may lead to a vote of no confidence against the government. Nevertheless the conversation about constitutional reform is still in its nascent stages.
The provision of indian constitution is almost similar to that of bangladesh constitution. Floor crossing in parliament has become a very contentious issue in our politics. In kenya now the president cannot be removed by a simple majority of mps. But pakistan has taken a revolutionary step to curve the negative effects of anti floor crossing law.
To illustrate the nature of anti defection legislation table 1 reports constitution. Voting against party lines may lead to consequences such as losing a position e g as minister or a portfolio critic or being ejected from the party caucus. Floor crossing is less of an issue than it would have been if those mps in naivasha in 2010 had not changed our system to a presidential one. The reform plans were widely welcomed as they provide an opportunity to refine and modernise the country s independence constitution.
Indeed it was designed to do so. In bangladesh in the year 1972 our constitution makers incorporated article 70 which is designed to prevent floor crossing in the parliament. Botswana is one of the handful of countries in africa which has had only one constitution throughout its history. We will maintain our vigil as a parliamentary opposition should.
The practice has occurred for different reasons such as when a member of parliament mp has been expelled from a party not elected into the national executive structures denied carte blanche within the executive structures or simply defecting to another party be it from the opposition party to the ruling. Some countries have inserted anti floor crossing law in their constitutions.