06 Feb 2019  |   05:54am IST

The opportunity game

Domnick Rodrigues

The world history tells us how in the past the countries were ruled by different forms of government such as Monarchy, Dictator, and Democracy. The system is still existing in some parts of the world, but as per the experts, Democracy is considered as the best form of government, as it is the people who elect their representatives, who are responsible for the people. Abraham Lincoln, the former president of United States of America, defines Democracy as “The Government of the People, for the People, and by the people” and is one of the best forms of government.

In India we follow the Democratic form of government which is elected by the people whose term is five years. But in the recent times we have seen how these representatives jump from one party to another; they do not have any ethics, principles or responsibilities for the people who have elected them and behave like frogs who come out after the first rain. And we have seen this things happening not only at the Central Government but also at the State Government and sometimes at the village level too.

Recently we have seen what happened to our last assembly election, the result was completely in favour of Congress as they had won more seats than the BJP but the Governor instead of inviting the party with a majority opted  and invited the minority party to form the government, after taking support of two other parties a coalition government was formed, this did not went well with the Congress as a result some of their MLAs who were not satisfied decided to play the opportunity games like the frogs when they come out during the first rain, in the different forest of Goa, and they took this opportunity, when they saw the attractive bait, and fell a prey to the ruling party tactics.

All was not well with ruling coalition government as some of their ministers were taken ill and they had to be rushed for medical treatment to US and Mumbai, the Opposition saw that the government was about to collapse and there was complete chaos, in the day to day administration and were trying  to gain support of as many MLAs, they could in order to bring the government down, and as they were about to do so another two MLAs like the frogs, played the same game like the earlier ones by  deserting their own territory, crossed over to joined the ruling party for their own gains, and forgetting that they are the representative of the people who have elected them, in this way they saved the government. This opportunity or the jumping game as we can also call has been going on for years. Can something be done to stop this nonsense? One of the ruling coalition’s partner has send a petition, and also directed the ECI, to send recommendations to the government, as well as the Law Commission of India seeking amendment to the anti- defection law whereby if members of  Parliament, Legislative Assemblies or Council resign from the membership without justifiable reasons they should be disqualified from contesting fresh elections and/or occupying any public posts for a period of six years which is very good sign, and they have even filed a petition in the High Court seeking the disqualification of these types of peoples representatives.

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar