MPs have to bear responsibility for their conduct in the House; on the other hand, the anti-defection legislation hinders useful debate by erasing an MP’s latitude vis-à-vis the party whip. Nevertheless, as Parliament heads for the Budget session, it is worth reiterating the need for systemic reform — for instance, greater rewards and scope for participation, a prime minister’s question hour and parliamentary hearings. Introducing these changes would not only foreground debate on the floor of the House but also enhance the quality of that debate. The first structured debate on the economic crisis — last December — involved 17 speakers but only about 70 listeners. That is an image the 15th Lok Sabha must lay to rest.