The expression 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram' in Indian politics, used for frequent defections, refers to a legislator named:

The phrase "Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram" came from Gaya Lal, an independent member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from Hodal, who changed his party three times within a single day in 1967.

What happened:

After the 1967 elections in Haryana, Gaya Lal joined the Congress, then switched to the United Front, then went back to the Congress, and then returned to the United Front, all within about two weeks, and three times within one day.

When he was brought back to the Congress, a leader presented him to the press saying "Gaya Ram is now Aaya Ram", which became the famous phrase.

Meaning of the phrase:

• It is used to describe politicians who frequently change parties for personal gain, such as ministerial posts or money.
• It became a symbol of political instability and defections in India.

Anti-defection law:

• To check defections, the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985 added the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, known as the anti-defection law.
• A member is disqualified if he voluntarily gives up the membership of his party or votes against the party's direction without permission.
• An independent member is disqualified if he joins a political party after the election.
• A nominated member is disqualified if he joins a party after six months of taking his seat.
• The presiding officer of the House decides questions of disqualification.

Changes by the 91st Amendment, 2003:

• It removed the exception for a "split" involving one-third of a party's legislators.
• A merger is allowed only if at least two-thirds of the members of a legislature party agree to it.
• It limited the size of the Council of Ministers to 15 per cent of the strength of the House.

Judicial review:

In the Kihoto Hollohan case (1992), the Supreme Court upheld the Tenth Schedule but held that the presiding officer's decision is subject to judicial review.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Ram Lal, Bhajan Lal and Devi Lal were other politicians; Bhajan Lal was known for a mass defection in Haryana in 1980.