Whip

In the realm of parliamentary politics, the term “whip” is used to describe a written order or direction given to members of a political party in a legislative body. It may also refer to an official of the party who is authorized to issue such a direction. The whip system has its roots in the old British practice of “whipping in” lawmakers to follow a party line.

The Role of a Whip

The role of a whip is to ensure party discipline, which means that members of a political party vote in a unified manner in the legislature, according to the party’s position on a given issue. Whips play a crucial role in ensuring that the party leadership’s decisions are followed by all members of the party. The whip system allows political parties to have greater control over the voting behavior of their members and ensures that the party’s agenda is upheld.

The term “whip” is derived from the fox hunting tradition, where a whipper-in is responsible for keeping the hounds in line and preventing them from straying. Similarly, the parliamentary whip is responsible for keeping party members in line and ensuring that they follow the party line.

The Role of the Supreme Court

Recently, the Indian Supreme Court observed that members of a House are bound by the whip. If any section of MLAs belonging to a political party that is part of the ruling coalition does not want to go with the alliance, the MLAs will be disqualified. This decision was made in response to a case where 18 MLAs of a political party defied the party’s whip and resigned from the House. The court ruled that the MLAs had violated the party’s whip and were liable to be disqualified.

Impact on Politics

The whip system has both positive and negative effects on the political process. On the one hand, it allows political parties to maintain discipline and promote party unity. It ensures that members of a party vote in a consistent and predictable manner, which is necessary for the smooth functioning of the legislative process.

On the other hand, the whip system can also lead to blind obedience to party leadership, regardless of the individual member’s personal beliefs or the opinions of their constituents. It can limit debate and discussion on important issues, and prevent members from voting according to their conscience.