B Vinod Kumar asks Centre to amend anti-defection law

Former BRS MP B Vinod Kumar urged the BJP-led Centre to amend the Tenth Schedule and introduce a three-month deadline for deciding disqualification petitions. He cited an ADR report showing 111 elected representatives changed parties between 2022 and 2026.

Hyderabad: Former BRS MP B Vinod Kumar has hit back at BJP leaders over their criticism of BRS on defections, asking the Centre to introduce a Bill to strengthen the anti-defection law instead of making political allegations. He demanded that the BJP-led Centre introduce the Bill, with a mandatory three-month deadline for deciding disqualification petitions, in the coming winter session.

In a statement, Vinod Kumar said the BJP should prove its commitment to checking defections by amending the Tenth Schedule rather than making political allegations. He demanded a mechanism to prevent disqualification petitions from being kept pending indefinitely and said elected representatives who switch parties should face automatic disqualification.

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The senior BRS leader cited an Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report released on September 24, which recorded 111 elected representatives changing parties between 2022 and 2026. The figure included 26 Lok Sabha MPs, seven Rajya Sabha MPs and 78 MLAs. He alleged that nine BRS MLAs in Telangana had joined the Congress after winning elections on BRS tickets, and questioned the Congress over its stand on defections. The ADR report does record nine Telangana lawmakers among the 111 elected representatives who changed parties during the period.

Vinod Kumar pointed to the Congress’ 2024 Lok Sabha manifesto promise to amend the Tenth Schedule to provide for automatic disqualification of MPs and MLAs who leave the party on whose ticket they were elected. He said the BJP should bring the amendment Bill and the Congress should support it. The Congress manifesto does contain a promise to amend the Tenth Schedule to make such defection an automatic disqualification.

“People’s mandate is not a licence to change parties,” he said, arguing that defections alter electoral verdicts without giving voters an opportunity to decide again.