Defection

Polity & Governance glossary

Also called: Floor-crossing · Topic: Political Parties, Party Systems and Anti-defection · NCERT: Class 9, Ch 7 "Elections"; Class 10, Ch 4 "Political Parties"; Class 11, Ch 5 "Legislature"; Class 12, Ch 5 "Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System"

Meaning

Defection means a legislator voluntarily leaves the party on whose ticket they were elected. It also means voting or abstaining (not voting) against the party's direction in the House. Under the Tenth Schedule, two more cases count:

  • an independent member joining a party;
  • a nominated member joining a party more than six months after taking their seat.

Class 9 gives two views of defection. It can be opportunism, done for a minister's post or cash. It can also be an act of conscience.

Example

In 1967 Gaya Lal, an MLA in Haryana, changed parties three times in a fortnight, which gave rise to the phrase "Aya Ram, Gaya Ram". Defections later brought down state governments, and this led to the anti-defection law in 1985.

Don't confuse with

  • Cross-voting in a Rajya Sabha election: it is not a ground for disqualification, because the Tenth Schedule covers only votes inside the House.

Related concepts

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