<h1>Assembly Speaker Calls for Stronger Anti-Defection Laws After Six Legislators Lose Seats for Cross-Voting</h1> The state assembly speaker advocated for strengthening anti-defection laws to prevent public representatives from betraying electoral mandates and ensure governance stability. At a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference, the speaker referenced a case where six legislators lost their seats for cross-voting in upper house elections and defying party directives during budget proceedings. The state has implemented provisions denying benefits including pensions to disqualified members and barring them from contesting elections for six years. The conference discussed constitutional anti-defection provisions and artificial intelligence use in legislative assemblies, with delegates from eight states participating in the two-day event.