Reacting strongly to reports of cross-voting in recent Rajya Sabha elections, Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday raised serious concerns over the state of political ethics in India.
‘Political Morality at Its Lowest’
Tewari said the situation reflects a deep decline in political values, where elected representatives fail to remain loyal to the parties that helped them win.
“It’s unfortunate that political morality has sunk to another level. People do not respect the political party which has put them in office,” he said.
Calls for Anti-Defection Law Review
The Congress leader stressed the need to revisit the Anti-Defection Law, citing repeated allegations of horse-trading and political manipulation in elections.
He warned that such practices are becoming more organised and widespread.
“What was earlier a retail activity has now become a mega-mart activity,” Tewari remarked, highlighting the scale of alleged political deal-making.
Concern Over Toppling of Governments
Tewari also pointed to the frequent collapse of governments through what he described as “extraneous means,” raising alarm over the health of India’s democratic system.
He said stronger legislative action is needed to enforce accountability and restore trust in the political process.
Parliament Not Addressing Key Issues
Expressing frustration, Tewari added that Parliament is not giving enough attention to such critical matters.
“Parliament does not have the bandwidth to discuss issues which are crucial for the survival of our democracy,” he said.
Debate on Political Ethics Intensifies
Tewari’s remarks come amid growing debate over cross-voting and internal dissent within parties during Rajya Sabha elections, once again bringing the spotlight on political integrity and electoral reforms in India.
