Defection as merger: On politics, the wave of defections

Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are defecting to the Eknath Shinde faction, constituting a two-thirds majority that could trigger a merger under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. This follows similar defections by members of other parties like the Trinamool Congress, who have aligned with the BJP and sought mergers. The Supreme Court is yet to rule on the validity of these claims, leaving presiding officers to approve such actions despite legal challenges. This trend raises concerns about the effectiveness of the Tenth Schedule and its impact on representative democracy.