Farm Bills and Voice Vote: How Opposition Was Silenced by BJP

The Lok Sabha Rules Committee has fourteen members besides the Speaker—eight from BJP and one each from Congress, BSP, TDP, YSR Congress, JD(U) and CPI. The Rules Committee of the Upper House also comprises 15 members including the Chairman and Vice President—four from the BJP, two from JD(U) and one each from TRS, AIADMK, CPM, SAD, an independent member and one nominated.

The practice of voice vote has a long history dating to the time of ancient Greeks. In the Spartan Council of Elders, Gerousia, there was a practice of voting by shouting. But in that case, the evaluators ranked candidates by the volume of applause when they were produced. The ‘evaluators’ however, were seated separately so they could not see the candidates, only ‘hear’ the noise.

Unlike the ancient Greeks, the person deciding what procedure to adopt in the Indian Parliament, is also the master of ceremony with…

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