The recent event where Boris Johnson, former UK’s Prime Minister, was ousted from his leadership position in the British Conservative Party by its Members of Parliament, has sparked discussions about the need for India to empower its elected representatives. This is in order to ensure accountability for party leadership. It’s critical to understand how Members of Parliament are elected in both nations and the powers they wield against the Prime Minister.
Election of MPs in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, a candidate must be authorized by their party’s nominating officer to contest as an MP from a main political party. The country is divided into 650 areas known as constituencies, each represented by one MP. During elections, the candidate with the most votes becomes the representative of that constituency. Should an MP retire or pass on, a by-election is held to find a replacement. General elections are held every five years, during which all constituencies become vacant and new MPs are elected.
Election of MPs in India
In India, Parliament consists of two houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with members elected for each. For Lok Sabha, also known as ‘The House of the People’, each state is divided into territorial constituencies from which representatives are elected using the First-past-the-post system. Similarly, for Rajya Sabha, known as ‘The Council of States’, representatives of states are elected by the members of state legislative assemblies. The representatives of Union Territory are indirectly elected by members of an electoral college specifically constituted for this purpose.
The Powers of an MP in the United Kingdom against the Prime Minister
A Prime Minister in the UK must maintain the confidence of his ministers at all times. If the leader is deemed unacceptable, a strategic procedure is initiated to protect the party’s electoral gains. Individual Conservative MPs write to the 1922 Committee (comprising backbench MPs) expressing ‘no confidence’ in their leader. If 15% of the party’s MPs express no confidence, an automatic leadership vote is triggered, forcing the party leader to seek a fresh mandate from the parliamentary party.
The Powers of an MP in India against the Prime Minister
In India, MPs can propose a No Confidence Motion against the entire council of ministers if they deem them unfit due to their inadequacy or failure to fulfill their obligations. The motion can be admitted if at least 50 members support the motion. If passed, the Government is bound to vacate the office. However, the motion requires a majority vote to pass the house.
Hindrances to MPs Liberty in India
The Anti-Defection Law in India punishes individual MPs/MLAs for switching political parties. Introduced in 1985, the aim was to bring stability to governments by discouraging legislators from changing parties. However, the law allows a group of MPs/MLAs to join another political party without facing the penalty for defection. It does not penalize political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators. The decision on disqualification on the ground of defection is referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such House and is subject to judicial review. But there’s no specified timeframe within which the presiding officer has to decide on a defection case.
Last Modified: February 18, 2024