In 1967, Haryana’s MLA Gaya Lal changed his political party three times in the span of fifteen days — first from the Congress to the Janata Party, then back to the Congress, and again to the Janata Party. ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’[1] thus became a popular phrase in Indian politics, referring to legislators (members of legislative bodies, such as MPs or MLAs) who frequently change their political allegiance and jump from one political party to another.
Political defection or shifting of party allegiance by legislators can happen for varied reasons, but it becomes problematic when politicians are given bribes to shift to other parties, by offering them the reward of a powerful political position or other benefits. Defections by legislators threaten the stability of the government and can even result in the fall of a ruling government.[2]