Going by the subsequent statements of JD(S) legislators, it appears that many would have indeed voted for Yeddyurappa, but for the party whip introduced through the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution. The Tenth Schedule, was introduced as a remedy to correct the evil of ‘horse trading’ but has proved to be worse than the evil it was meant to correct. It is being used to ensure political bonded labour, by forcing MLAs to obey the party whip.

Parliament should take due note of this and pass a law that will prevent such unscrupulous political conduct which greatly undermines Indian democracy.

The writer is a former chief justice of the the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and former governor of Jharkhand and Bihar