Open ballot for Legislative Council elections likely

­Aiming to end the corruption and cross voting, the Centre is planning to bring an amendment to the Representation of People Act to introduce open ballot system, instead of secret voting, in elections to Legislative Council members in which Legislative Assembly members cast their votes.

Of the six states, where Legislative Councils exist, two states–Maharashtra and Haryana– have agreed to the proposal and remaining states have yet to give consent, Law and Justice Minister D V Sadananda Gowda told Deccan Herald.

With the complaints from several states that cross voting by MLAs led to corrupt practices during election of Legislative Council members due to secret ballot system, the government has decided to bring an amendment to RP Act to make the election transparent, Gowda said.

Currently, elections of Rajya Sabha members from Legislative Assembly has open ballot system.

Anti-defection law
As per this system, if any recognised political party MLA violated the party whip, the party can recommend his disqualification under anti-defection law.

When the Centre brought amendment to RP Act in 2003 to introduce open ballot for Rajya Sabha polls, it was challenged in the Supreme Court in 2006. However a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the government decision.