Resort Politics in Five-Star Hotels — The People Vote, the Leaders Are Bought

Look at the scene of general elections in Indian democracy.

It is the scorching sun of May–June, with temperatures touching 45 degrees. A poor labourer, an elderly woman, a farmer—sacrificing their daily wages, standing for three long hours in queue at the polling booth just to get indelible ink marked on their finger. They think that this precious vote of theirs will build a good hospital in their area, open schools for their children, and banish the misery of their region.

But now, look at the scene the very next day after the election results are declared!

Live breaking news runs across television channels:

• “Luxury Volvo buses packed with MLAs heading straight for the airport under heavy police escort!”
• “40 MLAs of such-and-such party confined to a seven-star luxury resort in Bengaluru, Jaipur, or Goa!”
• “Bidding for each MLA reaches fifty to a hundred crore rupees!”

Seeing these honourable public representatives sipping juice by the poolside, playing on the golf courses of five-star hotels, and relishing lavish buffets—should it not make the blood of any true Indian boil?

The very citizens who elected them with their sweat and blood—instead of becoming servants of the people, they have turned into political hostages auctioned off for tens of crores! This is precisely what is known as the foulest malady of Indian democracy—‘Resort Politics’!

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The Mockery of the 10th Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) and Constitutional Degradation

In 1985, through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment, the ‘Anti-Defection Law’ (10th Schedule) was incorporated into the Constitution. The objective was to put an end to the notorious ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’ culture (the brazen horse-trading of legislators) of the 1960s and 1970s.

Yet today, our cunning politicians and corporate brokers have torn that very law to shreds:

1. The New Formula of Mass Resignations: Politicians no longer switch parties; instead, they directly ‘resign’ from their assembly seats so that the majority mark in the House drops and the opposition party’s government collapses! Later, those very leaders contest by-elections on the new party’s ticket and take oath as ministers.
2. The Partisan Role of the Assembly Speaker: The Supreme Court has repeatedly reprimanded Speakers who, instead of acting like impartial judges, act as agents of their ruling party and keep defection petitions hanging for months and years.
3. The Brazen Spectacle of Corporate Funds and Black Money: Where do hundreds of crores of rupees come from to topple and install governments? It is this very black money of corporate houses, which, once the government is formed, is extorted back from the public’s pockets with interest through mines, ports, and government contracts.

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Electoral Democracy vs Resort Democracy: A Comparative Perspective

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Bitter Truth from the Book: N. Singh’s Sharp Whip

Author N. Singh, in the chapter ‘Resort Politics and Democracy on Sale’ of his book ‘Anokha Bharat’ (Incredible India), writes:

“When MLAs and MPs, who are elected to frame the Constitution and the law, are penned like sheep and goats in five-star resorts, understand that the democracy of that country is gasping its last breaths on a ventilator in the ICU. When these honourable gentlemen cannot even trust their own integrity, when they have to be locked inside rooms out of fear of their own party leaders, how will they protect the rights of the people? When their own minds lack stability, what vision of a bright future can such representatives possibly paint for the nation? Democracy today is no longer public service; it has become a corporate investment yielding higher returns than the stock market!”
— N. Singh (Anokha Bharat, pp. 104–105)

The author further poses a deeply poignant question:

“If an ordinary citizen is caught taking a bribe of fifty rupees, he is instantly thrown into jail and loses his job. But when an MLA brazenly sells his allegiance for fifty crore rupees and topples a government, he is rewarded with the red beacon of a ministerial post! Is this the rule of law, or a gang of organised dacoits?”
— (Anokha Bharat, p. 108)

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Four Revolutionary Measures to Save Democracy from the Auction Block

1. Complete Ban on Contesting Elections for 6 Years upon Resignation: If an elected MLA or MP resigns before completing their 5-year tenure or defects, there must be a complete legal bar on them from contesting any election or assuming a ministerial post for the next 6 years.
2. Deciding Defection Cases through an Independent Tribunal: Instead of the Speaker, petitions regarding defection should be decided within 30 days by an Independent Tribunal comprising retired judges of the Supreme Court.
3. The Right to Recall: If a public representative betrays the trust of the people or sells out, voters of that constituency must be granted the legal right to recall them.
4. Reining in Corporate and Black Money in Elections: Completely abolish electoral bonds and anonymous corporate donations, and implement State Funding of elections.

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A Question for Reflection (The Message of the Book)

Do you want the deal for your sacred vote to continue being struck in the closed rooms of five-star resorts over tables of liquor and kebabs, or are you prepared to teach these purchasable leaders a lesson?

To understand deeply this gravest rot in Indian democracy, its constitutional intricacies, and the path to probity, this chapter from N. Singh’s acclaimed book ‘Anokha Bharat’ must be read by every patriotic and self-respecting citizen.