Defections affect moral sanctity of democracy
This opinion piece critiques the trend of Indian politicians switching parties for power rather than principle, arguing it undermines the democratic mandate. The author suggests that such defections erode public trust in political institutions and the sanctity of the electoral process.
Why it matters
Political defections challenge the integrity of parliamentary democracy and the relationship between voters and their elected representatives.
W inston Churchill once said that, “some men change parties for the sake of their principles; others change principles for the sake of their party”. India, however, seems to have perfected a third category — politicians who abandon both party and principle for the sake of power.
The break-up of the Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena-UBT (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) are only the latest examples of a disturbing trend concerning elections. Leaders campaign bitterly, questioning each other’s integrity and commitment to the nation, with voters asked to choose between sharply contrasting visions for India’s future. Yet once the ballots are counted, many of those differences dissolve, and hitherto irreconcilable opponents become political partners. Principles give way to pragmatism, and power becomes the only enduring conviction.
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