Under the Tenth Schedule, defection is NOT deemed to have occurred if ______ of the members of a legislature party merge with another party.
- one-half
- two-thirds
- three-fourths
- all
Answer: two-thirds
Paragraph 4 of Tenth Schedule: Merger exception - disqualification doesn't apply if original party merges with another party, OR if not less than 2/3 of members of legislature party agree to merge. This allows genuine ideological realignments while preventing small-group defections. 91st Amendment removed 'split' exception (1/3 rule) to curb defections.