Supriya Sule To Introduce Bill Seeking Structural Changes To Curb Horse Trading
The NCP (SP) leader proposed reforms to curb political defections.
NCP (SP) Leader and Baramati MP Supriya Sule on Saturday announced that she would introduce a bill in Parliament seeking major reforms to India's electoral process, with a particular focus on preventing alleged horse trading during indirect elections. Her remarks come amid political controversy surrounding the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections and allegations of inducements and pressure tactics.
Speaking to reporters in Pune after an event, Sule said recurring accusations of horse trading had undermined public trust in elections and called for structural changes to improve transparency. She argued that elections at all levels, from local bodies to the Lok Sabha, should be conducted in a manner that inspires greater public confidence and accountability.
The Baramati MP said her proposed legislation would address concerns related to indirect elections, where allegations of cross-voting and inducements frequently surface. According to Sule, one option would be to discontinue such elections in their current format, while another would be to introduce open voting mechanisms to make the process more transparent. She maintained that reforms were necessary to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure fair electoral practices.
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Sule also defended the decision by constituents of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance to withdraw certain candidates ahead of the June 18 elections to 16 Legislative Council seats from local self-government bodies. She said the move was taken collectively after consultations among leaders of the alliance, including representatives from the NCP (SP), Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), amid concerns about possible horse trading.
The opposition alliance has alleged that pressure tactics and inducements are being employed in the run-up to the council polls, allegations that have been rejected by leaders of the ruling Mahayuti coalition. Sule questioned criticism of the candidate withdrawals, arguing that political parties must respond to circumstances in individual constituencies and should not ignore concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Beyond electoral reforms, Sule confirmed that her party would participate in the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for June 8 following an invitation from Congress leader K C Venugopal. She also accused central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax Department, of being used against opposition parties, while criticising the Maharashtra government over issues related to farmers, unemployment and reservation policies.
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