NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said the 'sordid tale of political life' exemplified by toppling of state governments by switching of loyalty by ruling party MLAs and the spectacle of 'flocked rebel MLAs being flown to safe destinations' are denting the 'democratic polity' while suggesting legislative measures to remedy these evils.Upholding Madhya Pradesh governor Lalji Tandon 's decision to direct Kamal Nath-led Congress government to face floor test following resignation 22 MLAs who were flown to Bengaluru to keep them together, a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta said, "The spectacle of rival political parties whisking away their political flock to safe destinations does little credit to the state of our democratic politics.""It is an unfortunate reflection on the confidence which political parties hold in their own constituents and a reflection of what happens in the real world of politics. Political bargaining, or horse-trading, as we noticed, is now an oft repeated usage in legal precedents. 'Poaching‘ is an expression which was bandied about on both sides of the debate in the present case," the court said,However, the SC said it is best for the constitutional courts not to enter the political thicket and determine why the switching of loyalty happened, which is best left to the conscience of the rebel MLAS. "It is best that courts maintain an arm‘s length from the sordid tales of political life. In defining constitutional principle, however, this Court must be conscious of the position on the ground as admitted by counsel of both sides and an effort has to be made to the extent possible to ensure that democratic values prevail.""An underlying assumption of the anti-defection scheme outlined in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution is that the political party is the defined political unit which the Constitution recognises. Where we increasingly see a breakdown in the composition and allegiances of the political party due to private allurements offered to Members as opposed to public policy considerations, the law may have to evolve to address these burgeoning evils," it said.Narrating the sequence of hearing on the issue, the bench said, "We put the question to Dr (A M) Singhvi, who appeared for the Speaker, as to whether the Speaker would be willing to accept speaking to the resigning MLAs through video conferencing at an independent neutral venue, under the supervision of an observer appointed by the Court.""Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for rebel Congress MLAs, submitted that he was willing to abide by any modalities that may be fixed by this Court to ensure that the MLAs were not under any coercion. However, Dr Singhvi submitted that he did not have instructions to accept any such modality. Conscious as we are of the domain of the Speaker in such matters, we have desisted from issuing any such directions," the bench said."However, we are of the view that in order to facilitate a trust vote for which the twenty-two Members should be free to participate in the house should they opt to do so, directions in that regard should be issued both to the Director General of Police of Karnataka as well as to the Director General of Police of Madhya Pradesh. Our directions are intended to sub-serve the purpose of ensuring that none of the Members are restrained in the exercise of their rights and liberties as citizens and that if any of them opt to attend the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, they should not be prevented from doing so," the bench said reminiscing the interim order it had passed for urgent floor test, as was directed by the Governor.