Congress Introduces 'Legal Shield' to Curb Defections in Gujarat Local Body Elections

Ahmedabad: Ahead of the upcoming local body elections in Gujarat, the political atmosphere has heated up. The opposition Congress, in particular, has adopted a very strict and unprecedented strategy to strengthen its house and curb the menace of defections even before entering the electoral fray this time. To stop leaders from merging with the ruling party after winning elections for years, now the Congress has prepared a'legal shield'instead of relying only on morality. The party has now decided to take a legal affidavit along with the nomination form from all the candidates. A new twist has been seen in the process of selection of candidates by the Congress across the state. Each claimant who comes to give a census is given a special draft from the party. The affidavit attached to this census form clearly stipulates that if the candidate breaks with the party after winning or defecting, the party will submit a written proof against him / her under the Anti-Defection Law.