POLITICS-Non-Serious Problems

questionable interpretations. In the matter of propriety the speaker has shown himself to be no less dishabille than the governor. The alacrity with which he has dispensed with all the reasonable norms of statutory interpretation mirrors the indiscretions of the former Lok Sabha speaker, Shivraj Patil. Having first granted instant recognition to the Loktantrik Congress and then extended assurance to prospective defectors that their interests would not be compromised, he has proceeded to honour that assurance. In accordance with Shivraj Paul's startling interpretation of the split as a continuous process, he is awaiting the addition of the requisite number to BSP defectors to ensure that they do not attract disqualification under the anti-defection law. And to help facilitate the process, it has been found not only that the votes in violation of the BSP whip were valid but also that the petitions against these MLAs are prima facie defective. It is not unrealistic to expect that by November 21 a third of the BSP would have split, failing which a new definition of what constitutes a third may be forthcoming.