The anti-defection law, explained

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:50:00 +0530

In 1967, a Haryana legislator named Gaya Lal changed parties several times within a short span, giving Indian politics the phrase “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram”. Nearly two decades later, Parliament responded with the anti-defection law.

What the law says

The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, inserted by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985, applies to members of Parliament and of state legislatures. A member elected on a party ticket can be disqualified if they:

Speaker on Indian Politics

The anti-defection law, explained

What the law says