Indian-polity / Parliament / Whips
Whips
Whips of Political Parties
What exactly is the whip?
- A whip is a member of a political party whose job it is to keep party discipline in the legislature.
- This entails making certain that party members vote according to the party platform rather than their own personal ideologies or the wishes of their funders or constituency.
- The party's "enforcers" are the whips.
- They go to great lengths to ensure that their colleagues attend voting sessions and vote in accordance with their political party's official policy.
- Members who vote against party policy risk "losing the whip," or being kicked out of the organisation.
What is the Indian concept of the whip?
- The whip was introduced to India by the colonial British administration.
- Every major political party elects a whip to oversee the party's behaviour and discipline on the House floor.
- They typically instruct party members to vote in accordance with the wishes of senior party members and to adhere to the party's position on specific issues.
What happens if you don't follow the whip?
- If a legislator defies the party whip, she or he may be disqualified under anti-defection legislation unless the number of parliamentarians opposing the whip equals two-thirds of the party's strength in the house.
- Disqualification is decided by the Speaker/Chairman of the House.
Are there any restrictions on the whip?
- In certain circumstances, such as presidential elections, whips cannot order a Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) to vote a certain way.
What are the various types of whips issued?
- A one-line whip is used to notify members of a political party of a vote. It allows members to vote no if they disagree with the party's position.
- A two-line whip is used to notify members that they must be present in the House when voting occurs.
- Members are given a three-line whip that instructs them to vote in accordance with the party line
