New Delhi: Senior Congress MP Manish Tewari has introduced a private member’s bill in the Lok Sabha seeking to allow lawmakers to vote according to their conscience, rather than strictly following party directives. The proposal, presented during the ongoing winter session, aims to amend the anti-defection law and reduce the influence of “whip-driven tyranny” in Parliament.

Currently, MPs are legally bound to follow party instructions, known as a “whip”, except on certain matters like money bills or no-confidence motions. Tewari’s bill would retain exceptions for trust votes, adjournment motions, money bills, and other matters affecting government stability, while giving MPs freedom on other legislative matters.

Tewari argued that the bill emphasizes the primacy of voters over political parties. “The elector who stands in the sun for hours… or the political party whose whip the representative becomes the helot of?” he remarked, underscoring the disconnect between lawmakers and constituents caused by strict party discipline.

Highlighting the flaws in the current legislative process, Tewari said laws are often passed without proper discussion, with ministers reading statements prepared by bureaucrats and MPs voting along party lines. He believes true lawmaking requires research, debate, and engagement with best practices worldwide.

Tewari has previously introduced similar bills in 2010 and 2021. While private member bills rarely pass, his move comes amid internal turbulence and electoral setbacks in the Congress party.

Tewari also traced the history of the anti-defection law, noting that it was introduced in the 10th Schedule of the Constitution in 1985 after the “Aaya Ram Gaya Ram” era of frequent defections in Haryana. He argued that while well-intentioned, the law has failed to prevent large-scale defections in recent decades, particularly after 2014.

“This bill seeks to return conscience, constituency, and common sense to Parliament,” Tewari said, calling for a legislative culture where MPs actively study and contribute to policymaking rather than being “dogmatic ciphers” bound by party whips.

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