Should MPs have the right to cross over?

The number of politicians crisscrossing the political divide as the Presidential election gets nearer is drawing more ridicule than praise from the public. Each day one or two politicians change sides. Separate events are held to welcome those who cross over with religious ceremonies, publicity events, etc. with each side falling over one another to showcase their latest catch. 

Much of the crossovers of late have either been in favour of President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is contesting as an independent candidate or SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa. NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake has made it clear that their doors are not open for anyone leapfrogging as the election draws near.

The composition of the current Parliament has changed drastically from the one elected in 2020. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won 145 seats that year but now its members have broken into separate groups, some backing the President, some the SJB leader and some aligning themselves with other Presidential candidates. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who was elected from the SLPP in 2020 is among the 39 candidates contesting the election while SJB MP Sarath Fonseka too is taking another shot at the presidency.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) which won 54 seats in 2020 too has lost several members along the way, some joining the president and some going their separate way. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which won 10 seats too is fragmented with several of its alliance partners going their own way. The three NPP members remain intact for now while those elected from smaller parties too have aligned themselves with different parties.

An MP who recently extended support to the SJB candidate is alleged to have changed sides 17 times according to his opponents. He may not be the only one with such a record given that many have become serial jumpers changing sides at every election.

Political crossovers are nothing new. One such noted instance took place in December 1964 when C.P. de Silva, who was the Minister of Land, Irrigation and Power in the SLFP-LSSP coalition government of Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike, crossed over to the opposition along with 13 MPs. What followed was the defeat of Bandaranaike’s Government by one vote in a crucial parliamentary vote leading to the dissolution of Parliament and fresh polls in 1965. Bandaranaike lost the election that followed.

In 2007, 17 members of the UNP led by former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya joined the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa dealing a severe blow to the UNP.

Unlike in the past, the recent crossover has been done with a lot of fanfare, with agreements signed to ink the new partnerships. There is no doubt that those pledging support to the main candidates are doing so with the expectations of some plum positions in the future if the man they support wins the presidency. All talk that they are changing sides for love of country is bunkum.

The Supreme Court recently upheld the decision of the SJB to remove two of its members, namely Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando following which they lost their parliamentary seats. This was welcomed by some while others felt that there should be room for crossovers without MPs losing their seats.

The NPP says it will bring legislation to stop crossovers if they come to power, but such a move is unlikely to get wide support from other parties. It is the voters that elected their representatives to Parliament, and it should be left to them to decide the fate of those who change sides. Bringing laws to stop crossovers may take away the right of MPs to act according to their conscience and stifle their right to disagree with party decisions.