Political parties continue with their electoral quests making persistent attempts of wiping away the ghastly memories of 2019 where mergers by two-thirds factions emerged as a handy tool to offset defection. In the run-up to the 2022 election, these mergers became the biggest talking points around which revolved loyalty, sincerity and electoral mandate. These mergers, seen as defections in political parlance, have been quoted on all sides of the divide in a conscious attempt to score politically and win the confidence of voters.
On Wednesday, the Aam Aadmi Party took the 'affidavit' route as a pledge against defections. The party maintained that the affidavit becomes a legal document where candidates can be prosecuted should they act in contravention of the oath. All AAP candidates posed with their signed affidavits before the media.
AAP's move of swearing affidavits is no doubt well-intentioned, but it can serve very little purpose when the Speaker becomes the immediate authority in deciding on a defection. The affidavit will only act as a character certificate binding the candidate and the party against defection. At a time when the greatest fear is about legislators acting against the mandate of people by merging two-third factions, there is very little parties can do. Parties like Congress and MGP have been helpless in situations where two-thirds majority members have overnight merged into the BJP, raising a host of questions over the constitutional proprietary of these moves. While Goa is on the threshold of another election, the ticklish issue remains unanswered with the matter still being heard in courts.
Signing an affidavit and promising not to defect will serve very little purpose because legally speaking this document may not stand the ultimate test of courts. The exercise undertaken by AAP is unique in its way and could be a sincere attempt to assuage hurt public sentiment, but in a larger political context, it would still be an exercise in futility in terms of checkmating defections.
If reassuring the electorate against party-hopping and merging is important, there is also a need for parties to declare their affiliations, especially the post-electoral alliances. The obvious question Independent candidate Utpal Parrikar faced was whether he would support the BJP if elected. In this context, it would make sense if parties could make such disclosure to bring in clarity. In a democratic setup, transparency could go a long way in rebuilding public trust.
