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Raghav Chadha could not have defected or split AAP — if his Bill had passed

In a Private Member's Bill in 2022, Chadha sought a stiffer anti-defection law, one that would require a three-fourths majority, not two-thirds, to engineer a legitimate split.

If the first legislation he had proposed as Rajya Sabha’s youngest member four years ago had become law, Raghav Chadha would not have been able to exit the AAP, along with six other party members of the House, and “merge with” the BJP, an announcement he made two days ago, citing a two-thirds majority of AAP’s House strength of 10.

In fact, had his proposed Bill been enacted, Chadha would have needed the support of seven, not six, from his party to cross over. And the present team would have been barred from contesting elections for six years for splitting the party.

Because the Constitution (Amendment) Bill that Chadha, then a trusted aide of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, brought to the House as a Private Member’s Bill on August 5, 2022 – this was three months after he entered Rajya Sabha – sought a stiffer anti-defection law, one that would require a three-fourths majority, not two-thirds, to engineer a legitimate split.

Citing “nefarious floor crossing by legislators in total disregard of the democratic wishes of the electorate who returned them”, Chadha’s proposed Bill sought to strengthen anti-defection norms through more stringent provisions for the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which pertains to disqualification of elected representatives on ground of defection.

The proposed legislation, according to its objectives, aimed to “strengthen our democracy and help our public representatives in becoming informed lawmakers rather than political party workers” by amending Articles 102 and 191 of the Constitution and increasing the threshold for inter-party mergers from 2/3rd to 3/4th of a party’s legislative strength through an amendment to the Tenth Schedule.

“…In Tenth Schedule to the Constitution…for sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 4, the following shall be substituted:— (2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, the merger of the original political party of a member of a House shall be deemed to have taken place if, and only if, not less than three-fourth of the members of the legislature party concerned have agreed to such merger…” the Bill, listed against Chadha’s name as part of his Rajya Sabha record, stated.

Article 102 (2) of the Constitution states ‘A person shall be disqualified for being a member of either House of Parliament if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.’ According to 191 (2), ‘A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.’

While the anti-defection law, the Bill stated, envisaged “the prevention of horse-trading” of legislators, the problem was still “notoriously prevalent”, and there was “rampant misuse of Tenth Schedule” and instances of it being bypassed “are a blot on our democracy”.

That Bill remains pending. Chadha’s office did not respond to a request from The Indian Express for a comment.

Raghav Chadha could not have defected or split AAP — if his Bill had passed
राघव चड्ढा कुड नॉट हैव डिफेक्टेड ऑर स्प्लिट एएपी — इफ हिज बिल हैड पास्ड

In a Private Member's Bill in 2022, Chadha sought a stiffer anti-defection law, one that would require a three-fourths majority, not two-thirds, to engineer a legitimate split.
इन अ प्राइवेट मेंबर’स बिल इन 2022, चड्ढा सॉट अ स्टिफर एंटी-डिफेक्शन लॉ, वन दैट वुड रिक्वायर अ थ्री-फोर्थ्स मेजॉरिटी, नॉट टू-थर्ड्स, टू इंजीनियर अ लेजिटिमेट स्प्लिट।

If the first legislation he had proposed as Rajya Sabha’s youngest member four years ago had become law, Raghav Chadha would not have been able to exit the AAP, along with six other party members of the House, and “merge with” the BJP, an announcement he made two days ago, citing a two-thirds majority of AAP’s House strength of 10.
इफ द फर्स्ट लेजिस्लेशन ही हैड प्रपोज्ड ऐज़ राज्य सभा’ज़ यंगेस्ट मेंबर फोर इयर्स अगो हैड बिकम लॉ, राघव चड्ढा वुड नॉट हैव बीन एबल टू एग्जिट द एएपी, अलॉन्ग विद सिक्स अदर पार्टी मेंबर्स ऑफ द हाउस, एंड “मर्ज विद” द बीजेपी, एन अनाउंसमेंट ही मेड टू डेज अगो, साइटिंग अ टू-थर्ड्स मेजॉरिटी ऑफ एएपी’ज़ हाउस स्ट्रेंथ ऑफ 10।

In fact, had his proposed Bill been enacted, Chadha would have needed the support of seven, not six, from his party to cross over.
इन फैक्ट, हैड हिज प्रपोज्ड बिल बीन एनैक्टेड, चड्ढा वुड हैव नीडेड द सपोर्ट ऑफ सेवन, नॉट सिक्स, फ्रॉम हिज पार्टी टू क्रॉस ओवर।

And the present team would have been barred from contesting elections for six years for splitting the party.
एंड द प्रेज़ेंट टीम वुड हैव बीन बार्ड फ्रॉम कॉन्टेस्टिंग इलेक्शंस फॉर सिक्स इयर्स फॉर स्प्लिटिंग द पार्टी।

Because the Constitution (Amendment) Bill that Chadha, then a trusted aide of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, brought to the House as a Private Member’s Bill on August 5, 2022 – this was three months after he entered Rajya Sabha – sought a stiffer anti-defection law, one that would require a three-fourths majority, not two-thirds, to engineer a legitimate split.
बिकॉज़ द कॉन्स्टिट्यूशन (अमेंडमेंट) बिल दैट चड्ढा, देन अ ट्रस्टेड एड ऑफ एएपी चीफ अरविंद केजरीवाल, ब्रॉट टू द हाउस ऐज़ अ प्राइवेट मेंबर’स बिल ऑन ऑगस्ट 5, 2022 – दिस वॉज़ थ्री मंथ्स आफ्टर ही एंटर्ड राज्य सभा – सॉट अ स्टिफर एंटी-डिफेक्शन लॉ, वन दैट वुड रिक्वायर अ थ्री-फोर्थ्स मेजॉरिटी, नॉट टू-थर्ड्स, टू इंजीनियर अ लेजिटिमेट स्प्लिट।

Citing “nefarious floor crossing by legislators in total disregard of the democratic wishes of the electorate who returned them”, Chadha’s proposed Bill sought to strengthen anti-defection norms through more stringent provisions for the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which pertains to disqualification of elected representatives on ground of defection.
साइटिंग “नेफेरियस फ्लोर क्रॉसिंग बाय लेजिस्लेटर्स इन टोटल डिसरिगार्ड ऑफ द डेमोक्रेटिक विशेज ऑफ द इलेक्टोरेट हू रिटर्न्ड देम”, चड्ढा’ज़ प्रपोज्ड बिल सॉट टू स्ट्रेंथन एंटी-डिफेक्शन नॉर्म्स थ्रू मोर स्ट्रिंजेंट प्रोविज़न्स फॉर द टेन्थ शेड्यूल ऑफ द कॉन्स्टिट्यूशन, विच पर्टेन्स टू डिसक्वालिफिकेशन ऑफ इलेक्टेड रिप्रेजेंटेटिव्स ऑन ग्राउंड ऑफ डिफेक्शन।

The proposed legislation, according to its objectives, aimed to “strengthen our democracy and help our public representatives in becoming informed lawmakers rather than political party workers” by amending Articles 102 and 191 of the Constitution and increasing the threshold for inter-party mergers from 2/3rd to 3/4th of a party’s legislative strength through an amendment to the Tenth Schedule.
द प्रपोज्ड लेजिस्लेशन, अकॉर्डिंग टू इट्स ऑब्जेक्टिव्स, एम्ड टू “स्ट्रेंथन आवर डेमोक्रेसी एंड हेल्प आवर पब्लिक रिप्रेजेंटेटिव्स इन बिकमिंग इन्फॉर्म्ड लॉमेकर्स रादर दैन पॉलिटिकल पार्टी वर्कर्स” बाय अमेंडिंग आर्टिकल्स 102 एंड 191 ऑफ द कॉन्स्टिट्यूशन एंड इंक्रीज़िंग द थ्रेशोल्ड फॉर इंटर-पार्टी मर्जर्स फ्रॉम 2/3rd टू 3/4th OF अ पार्टी’ज़ लेजिस्लेटिव स्ट्रेंथ थ्रू एन अमेंडमेंट टू द टेन्थ शेड्यूल।

Article 102 (2) of the Constitution states ‘A person shall be disqualified for being a member of either House of Parliament if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.’
आर्टिकल 102 (2) ऑफ द कॉन्स्टिट्यूशन स्टेट्स ‘अ पर्सन शैल बी डिसक्वालिफाइड फॉर बीइंग अ मेंबर ऑफ ईदर हाउस ऑफ पार्लियामेंट इफ ही इज़ सो डिसक्वालिफाइड अंडर द टेन्थ शेड्यूल।’

According to 191 (2), ‘A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.’
अकॉर्डिंग टू 191 (2), ‘अ पर्सन शैल बी DISQUALIFIED फॉर बीइंग अ मेंबर ऑफ द लेजिस्लेटिव असेंबली ऑर लेजिस्लेटिव काउंसिल ऑफ अ स्टेट इफ ही इज़ सो डिसक्वालिफाइड अंडर द टेन्थ शेड्यूल।’

While the anti-defection law, the Bill stated, envisaged “the prevention of horse-trading” of legislators, the problem was still “notoriously prevalent”, and there was “rampant misuse of Tenth Schedule” and instances of it being bypassed “are a blot on our democracy”.
व्हाइल द एंटी-डिफेक्शन लॉ, द बिल स्टेटेड, एनविज़ेज्ड “द प्रिवेंशन ऑफ हॉर्स-ट्रेडिंग” ऑफ लेजिस्लेटर्स, द प्रॉब्लम वॉज़ स्टिल “नोटोरियस्ली प्रिवेलेंट”, एंड देयर वॉज़ “रैम्पेंट मिसयूज़ ऑफ टेन्थ शेड्यूल” एंड इंस्टैंसेज़ ऑफ इट बीइंग बायपास्ड “आर अ ब्लॉट ऑन आवर डेमोक्रेसी”।

That Bill remains pending.
दैट बिल रिमेन्स पेंडिंग।

Chadha’s office did not respond to a request from The Indian Express for a comment.
चड्ढा’ज़ ऑफिस डिड नॉट रिस्पॉन्ड टू अ रिक्वेस्ट फ्रॉम द इंडियन एक्सप्रेस फॉर अ कमेंट।

Words:

Raghav = राघव
Chadha = चड्ढा
could = सकता था
not = नहीं
have = रखा / किया होता
defected = दल बदल किया
or = या
split = विभाजित किया
AAP = आम आदमी पार्टी
if = यदि / अगर
his = उसका
Bill = विधेयक / बिल
had = किया था / होता
passed = पारित हुआ

In = में
a = एक
Private = निजी
Member's = सदस्य का
Bill = विधेयक
in = में
2022 = 2022
Chadha = चड्ढा
sought = मांग की / चाहा
a = एक
stiffer = अधिक कठोर
anti-defection = दल-बदल विरोधी
law = कानून
one = एक
that = जो
would = होगा / करता
require = आवश्यकता होगी
a = एक
three-fourths = तीन-चौथाई
majority = बहुमत
not = नहीं
two-thirds = दो-तिहाई
to = करने के लिए
engineer = तैयार करना / संचालित करना
a = एक
legitimate = वैध
split = विभाजन

the = वह
first = पहला
legislation = कानून / विधेयक
he = उसने
proposed = प्रस्तावित किया
as = के रूप में
Rajya = राज्य
Sabha’s = सभा का
youngest = सबसे युवा
member = सदस्य
four = चार
years = वर्ष
ago = पहले
become = बन गया
law = कानून

would = होता
been = गया होता
able = सक्षम
exit = बाहर निकलना
along = साथ
with = के साथ
six = छह
other = अन्य
party = पार्टी
members = सदस्य
of = का / के
House = सदन
merge = विलय करना
BJP = भारतीय जनता पार्टी
announcement = घोषणा
made = किया
two = दो
days = दिन
citing = हवाला देते हुए
House = सदन
strength = संख्या / शक्ति

fact = तथ्य
enacted = लागू किया गया
needed = आवश्यकता थी
support = समर्थन
seven = सात
from = से
cross = पार करना
over = ऊपर / दूसरी ओर

present = वर्तमान
team = टीम
barred = रोका गया
contesting = चुनाव लड़ना
elections = चुनाव
for = के लिए
years = वर्ष
splitting = विभाजित करने पर

Because = क्योंकि
Constitution = संविधान
Amendment = संशोधन
then = तब
trusted = विश्वसनीय
aide = सहयोगी
chief = प्रमुख
Arvind = अरविंद
Kejriwal = केजरीवाल
brought = लाया
August = अगस्त
months = महीने
after = बाद
entered = प्रवेश किया

Citing = उल्लेख करते हुए
nefarious = दुष्ट / अनैतिक
floor = सदन
crossing = पार करना
by = द्वारा
legislators = विधायक / सांसद
total = पूर्ण
disregard = अनदेखी
democratic = लोकतांत्रिक
wishes = इच्छाएँ
electorate = मतदाता वर्ग
returned = चुनकर भेजा
them = उन्हें

strengthen = मजबूत करना
norms = नियम
through = माध्यम से
more = अधिक
stringent = सख्त
provisions = प्रावधान
Tenth = दसवीं
Schedule = अनुसूची
pertains = संबंधित है
disqualification = अयोग्यता
elected = निर्वाचित
representatives = प्रतिनिधि
ground = आधार

proposed = प्रस्तावित
according = अनुसार
its = इसके
objectives = उद्देश्य
aimed = लक्ष्य रखा
our = हमारा
democracy = लोकतंत्र
help = मदद
public = सार्वजनिक
becoming = बनना
informed = जागरूक
lawmakers = कानून निर्माता
rather = बजाय
than = से
political = राजनीतिक
workers = कार्यकर्ता

amending = संशोधन करना
Articles = अनुच्छेद
increasing = बढ़ाना
threshold = सीमा
inter-party = अंतर-पार्टी
mergers = विलय
legislative = विधायी

person = व्यक्ति
shall = होगा
disqualified = अयोग्य
being = होने के लिए
either = किसी एक
Parliament = संसद

Legislative = विधायी
Assembly = विधानसभा
Council = परिषद
State = राज्य

while = जबकि
stated = कहा गया
envisaged = परिकल्पना की
prevention = रोकथाम
horse-trading = खरीद-फरोख्त
problem = समस्या
still = अभी भी
notoriously = कुख्यात रूप से
prevalent = प्रचलित
rampant = व्यापक
misuse = दुरुपयोग
instances = उदाहरण
bypassed = दरकिनार किया गया
blot = कलंक

remains = बना हुआ है
pending = लंबित

office = कार्यालय
did = किया
respond = उत्तर देना
request = अनुरोध
Indian = भारतीय
Express = एक्सप्रेस
comment = टिप्पणी