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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

‘Now, political defections possible without losing seat’

The recent ‘experiments’ in Ambernath and Akot civic bodies have created a political storm. Renowned legal expert, Barrister Vinod Tiwari, President of Council for Protection of Rights (CPR), gives a perspective to the row while interacting with Quaid Najmi. Excerpts... What is the Anti-Defection Law under the Indian Constitution? The Anti-Defection Law is part of the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. It was introduced through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985. The main...

‘Now, political defections possible without losing seat’

The recent ‘experiments’ in Ambernath and Akot civic bodies have created a political storm. Renowned legal expert, Barrister Vinod Tiwari, President of Council for Protection of Rights (CPR), gives a perspective to the row while interacting with Quaid Najmi. Excerpts... What is the Anti-Defection Law under the Indian Constitution? The Anti-Defection Law is part of the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. It was introduced through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985. The main purpose is to stop elected representatives – MPs and MLAs - from switching political parties after elections for personal/political gain. It aims to ensure political stability, respect the mandate of voters, and prevent unethical political practices. Under this law, an elected representative can be disqualified if he/she voluntarily gives up the party membership or vote against their party’s official direction (whip). There are limited exceptions, like when two-thirds of a party’s members agree to merge with another party. The Speaker or Chairman decides disqualification cases, but their decisions can be reviewed by courts.   Is there a similar Anti-Defection law for local bodies in Maharashtra? Keeping in mind the spirit of the Tenth Schedule, Maharashtra enacted the Maharashtra Local Authority Members’ Disqualification Act, 1986 (enforced in 1987). It applies to Municipal Councils and other local bodies and was meant to stop the elected councillors from hopping across parties post-elections, and preserve the voters’ mandate at the local level.   Why is there so much unrest in the 2025-2026 civic bodies elections? The root cause lies in post-poll alliances, which have been made legally easier through amendments to Section 63 of the Maharashtra Municipal Councils Act, 1965. They allow political parties and/or councillors to form post-election fronts or groups. Over time, political parties have collectively and deliberately weakened the 1986 Disqualification Act, and it is now what I would call a “toothless tiger.” Hence, the strange and opportunistic post-elections alliances witnessed in Ambernath (Thane) and Akot (Akola), and some others after the December 20 municipal council elections.   How exactly was the Anti-Defection law diluted? It was through a quietly crafted amendment to Section 63 of the Municipal Councils Act, 1965, which was implemented after the 2016 local bodies elections, although the Disqualification Act remained on paper. It allows councillors and political parties - within one month of election results - to form a post-poll group or alliance, even if they contested elections separately. Once registered, this newly-formed group is treated as if it were a pre-poll alliance, and the Anti-Defection law applies only after that point. This effectively ‘legalised defections disguised as alliances’.   What were the repercussions? Another major blow came when the State Government amended the law to give itself appellate powers in Anti-Defection cases involving local bodies. Earlier, decisions were taken by Commissioners or Collectors. Now, any aggrieved councillor can appeal to the State Government, which becomes the final authority. This has given huge relief to defectors, especially when the ruling party controls the state government. Now elected representatives brazenly switch sides, aware they may not face serious consequences.   What is the long-term fallout of this trend? These amendments have made post-poll “marriages of convenience” the new political norm. The ruling party always has an unfair advantage, often forming governments without securing a clear electoral majority. This completely undermines democracy and voter trust, besides going contrary to the original purpose of the Anti-Defection Law.

On Operation Safed Sagar anniversary, IAF highlights role of air power in Kargil and now

  • PTI
  • May 26, 2025
  • 2 min read


The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday marked the anniversary of Operation Safed Sagar, which was launched during the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan.


The IAF stated that the operation aimed at “flushing out Pakistani regulars and intruders” who had taken control of Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir.


“This was the first large-scale use of air power in the Kashmir region since the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Never before had an air force been tasked with such high-altitude precision operations in rugged mountainous terrain – making it a watershed moment in military aviation history,” the Air Force said in a post on X.


The IAF said Operation Safed Sagar involved the use of aircraft such as Mirage 2000s, MiG-21s, Mi-17s, Jaguars, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, Chetak helicopters, and MiG-29s, and described the mission as a “trailblazer” in many ways.


“It saw air power employed in unconventional roles, demonstrated the effectiveness of limited use of air assets in a localised conflict, and shattered the long-held notion that use of air power would inevitably escalate into full-scale war,” the post read.


“The operation not only showcased the versatility and resolve of the Indian Air Force but also established the deterrent value of calibrated air strikes – even in a low-intensity conflict. It proved that air power could decisively alter the course of battle without crossing international boundaries,” it added.


The Kargil War lasted for nearly three months on the icy heights of the Kargil mountains. It began in May 1999 when Pakistani troops and terrorists occupied peaks in the Kargil sector.


In response, India launched Operation Vijay to reclaim the occupied territory and successfully regained control by July 26 – a date now commemorated as Kargil Vijay Diwas.


The anniversary of Operation Safed Sagar comes just days after the Indian armed forces carried out strikes on Pakistani air bases.


India targeted these air bases in response to Pakistan’s drone and missile attacks that were aimed at civilian areas and military infrastructure in India’s western sector. These attacks came after Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation for a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, last month.


Operation Sindoor

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting multiple terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.


The Indian armed forces destroyed nine terror camps belonging to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen, killing over 100 terrorists.


Following these overnight operations by Indian forces, Pakistan responded with drone and missile attacks on India’s western regions. However, the Indian military successfully intercepted them. In return, India struck selected military targets deep inside Pakistan.


After four days of heavy cross-border drone and missile exchanges, both countries agreed to a ceasefire last Saturday, bringing immediate halt to military actions.

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