Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the time has come to amend the anti-defection legislation in the country to plug existing loopholes.
“There are certain loopholes in the anti defection law. It allows wholesale defection. But retail defection is not allowed. Amendments are required to plug the loopholes,” Mr. Naidu said speaking on the ‘Media’s role in new India,’ organised here by the Press Club of Bangalore.
Stating that there is no clarity in the law about the timeframe for the action of the House Chairperson or Speaker in the anti-defection cases, he said: “Some cases are taking six months and some even three years. There are cases that are disposed off after the term is over. I personally believe that these anti-defection cases can be disposed of in three months.” It is also the dharma of politicians and a requirement as per Constitution to leave the post that they are holding when they change parties, he said.
