UDP bats for introduction of anti-defection law in ADCs

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 28, 2019

SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party has pledged to push for introduction of the anti-defection law if it is elected to power in the two autonomous district councils which will go for elections on February 27.

“This law is very necessary to address the evil of defection in the district councils,” UDP senior working president Bindo M Lanong told reporters after a CEC meeting which approved the draft election manifesto here on Monday.

He said the anti-defection law has been a popular demand from several quarters since the autonomous district councils are also elected by the people for five years.

“The absence of such law has led to the formation of upto five-six executive committees in five years (with members shifting allegiance from one party to another),” Lanong said.

Asked in view of the Centre’s decision to approve the amendments of the Sixth Schedule to the Indian Constitution, the UDP leader said, “We will press harder for introduction of the anti-defection law as is done in Parliament and State Assemblies.”

He however said that the party is not in favour of extending the tenure of the two ADCs – KHADC and JHADC, for implementing the amendments of the Sixth Schedule. “The decision of the then government to extend tenure of the GHADC by one year was in fact illegal as you cannot extend the tenure of the House…” he added.