Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Political Science

Chapter

Politics in India Since Independence: Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System

Question:

The term 'defection' refers to :

Options:

Changing of Country

an elected representative leaves the party on whose symbol he/she was elected and joins another party

an officer from the bureaucracy

opposition leader

Correct Answer:

an elected representative leaves the party on whose symbol he/she was elected and joins another party

Explanation:

The correct answer is option (2) - an elected representative leaves the party on whose symbol he/she was elected and joins another party

Defection means an elected represen­tative leaves the party whose ticket she/he has been elected and joins another party.

The term 'aya ram, gaya ram' gained popularity within India's political discourse as a way to depict the recurring practice of legislators frequently changing their party affiliations. Translated literally, the phrase signifies "Ram came, Ram went." This phrase originated from a remarkable instance of floor-crossing carried out by Gaya Lal, an MLA in Haryana, in 1967. In the span of two weeks, he changed his party allegiance three times: from Congress to United Front, back to Congress, and then, within just nine hours, back to United Front. It is said that when Gaya Lal announced his departure from the United Front to join the Congress, Congress leader Rao Birendra Singh brought him to a press event in Chandigarh and stated, "Gaya Ram was now Aya Ram." This incident led to the phrase "Aya Ram, Gaya Ram," which became a subject of humor and caricatures. Subsequently, to curb such frequent party-switching, the Constitution of India was amended in 1985 through the Tenth Schedule of the 52nd amendment. This amendment aimed to limit the occurrence of defections in Indian politics.