Explanation:

Defection is defined as “to abandon a position or association, often to join an opposing group” which essentially describes a situation when a member of a particular party abandons his loyalty towards that party and provide his support (in the form of his vote or otherwise) to another party. To avoid such a situation (about which you’ll read later in Laxmikanth and 11th NCERT), an anti-defection provision was added in the constitution. If a member of a political party disobeys party directions concerning matters such as voting on a bill or for a candidate, this amounts to defection. The member is then liable to be punished by the party.

However, the ECI has clarified recently that voting or not voting as per his/her own free will at the Presidential election and the electors are at liberty to vote or not to vote at the Presidential election as per their own free will and choice. This will equally apply to the political parties and they are free to canvas or seek votes of electors for any candidate or requesting or appealing to them to refrain from voting. However, the political parties cannot issue any direction or whip to their members to vote in a particular manner or not to vote at the election leaving them with no choice, as that would tantamount to the offence of undue influence within the meaning of section 171C of the IPC. This is because, as per the ECI, voting at election to the office of President is different from voting by a Member of Parliament or State Legislature inside the House.