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It is learnt that Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has apprised Lok Sabha
speaker P.A. Sangma of his intention to call an all-party meeting with
senior leaders on November 10 in order to discuss and evolve a consensus on
electoral reforms, including an amendment to the anti -defection law,
before the winter session of Parliament begins here on November 19.
Significantly enough, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary
Sundar Singh Bhandari had earlier said his party was in contact with
"dozens of Congressmen" and was waiting for them to take a "collective
decision " before the BJP decided whether the UP "model" could be repeated
at the Centre. It is also learnt that Congress President Sitaram Kesri,
still reeling from the shock of the split in UP, has told Mr Gujral that he
is keen on an amendment to the anti-defection law to keep his flock intact.
Later, though, Mr Sangma said that most of the meeting was spent discussing
the Impact of the Supreme Court ban on tree-felling in Meghalaya. He also
said that the PM had informed him of his intention of calling an all-party
meeting to discuss the anti-defection law.
Mr Sangma pointed out that at the recent meeting of speakers in Shimla, a
unanimous resolution was passed that the "anti defection law needs to be
reviewed" and that "defection in any form should be legally banned." This
comes in the wake of Mr Sangma telling a TV network that he wanted criminal
proceedings initiated against all those who initiated violence in the UP
assembly.
UF sources that there was concern in the front that the BJP may engineer
defections in the Congress at the Centre in the way it had done so in UP
and try and form a government within the Eleventh Lok Sabha.
Indeed, the UF's steering committee is meeting here on November 5 to review
the anti-defection law, and suggest amendments which would ensure
disqualification of all defectors.
Left Parties are of the opinion is that if anyone chooses to leave a party
from which he or she has been elected, that person should go back to the
people and seek a fresh mandate. Former prime minister V.P. Singh had put
forward a similar view when he spoke to journalists on Saturday.
Interestingly, Mr Bhandari said the BJP was also of the same view but when
asked about what had happened in UP, he said, "Let the first be amended."
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