'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram': When State Governments Changed After Loyalists Became Rebels

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 21:45 IST

In the past decade alone, several major state governments have either collapsed or undergone dramatic power shifts after internal rebellions.

For Gen-Z voters, the phrase “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram" may sound unfamiliar. But in Indian politics, it has symbolised defections and political turnarounds for nearly five decades. The term dates back to 1967, when Haryana MLA Gaya Lal switched political parties three times in a single day, giving rise to the now-famous expression that describes lawmakers frequently changing loyalties.

Since then, India has witnessed multiple governments collapsing after trusted loyalists turned rebels, dramatically altering the political landscape overnight. The latest rebellion within All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has once again brought the anti-defection debate into focus. As many as 25 out of 47 AIADMK MLAs have revolted against General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, accusing him of making an attempt to form the government with DMK after C Joseph Vijay’s TVK failed to secure a majority. Palaniswami has now removed all 25 MLAs from posts in the party.

Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law, legislators can avoid disqualification if at least two-thirds of a party’s lawmakers break away together. Over the years, courts — including the Supreme Court — have repeatedly dealt with questions over who represents the “real party" when such splits occur.

Also Read | 25 Rebel AIADMK MLAs Stripped Of Party Posts: What Happens Next? 5 Scenarios Explained

In the past decade alone, several major state governments have either collapsed or undergone dramatic power shifts after internal rebellions.

Maharashtra (2022): The Shinde Revolt

In one of the biggest political upheavals in recent years, Eknath Shinde, once considered a close loyalist of Uddhav Thackeray, led a massive rebellion within the Shiv Sena.

Shinde accused Thackeray of abandoning the party’s Hindutva ideology by aligning with the Congress and the NCP under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

Nearly 40 of Shiv Sena’s 55 MLAs sided with Shinde, pushing the Thackeray government to the brink. Before facing a floor test, Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Chief Minister. Shinde later formed the government with BJP support and eventually secured legal recognition over the Shiv Sena name and symbol.

Madhya Pradesh (2020): Scindia Switches Sides

The fall of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh revolved around Jyotiraditya Scindia, once seen as one of the party’s prominent young leaders.

Scindia rebelled against the Congress leadership, claiming he was being sidelined by senior leaders including Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh.

He resigned from the Congress along with 22 MLAs and joined the BJP, triggering the collapse of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government. The BJP returned to power with Shivraj Singh Chouhan taking oath as Chief Minister once again.

Karnataka (2019): Resort Politics And Collapse

The Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka was weakened by internal divisions from the beginning.

In July 2019, 17 MLAs from the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) camped at a Mumbai resort, declaring rebellion against then Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy.

Despite efforts to persuade the rebels to return, the coalition lost the trust vote. The BJP formed the government under B. S. Yediyurappa, while several rebel MLAs later contested and won bypolls on BJP tickets.

Arunachal Pradesh (2016): Mass Defection Changes Government Overnight

Arunachal Pradesh witnessed one of the most dramatic mass defections in recent political history. Following internal unrest against then Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, the Congress government plunged into instability, and the state briefly came under President’s Rule.

Eventually, Pema Khandu became Chief Minister as a Congress leader. But within months, Khandu and 43 of the 44 Congress MLAs shifted to the People’s Party of Arunachal before eventually aligning with the BJP. The transition effectively converted a Congress-ruled state into a BJP government without a fresh election.

Uttarakhand (2016)

Political instability also rocked Uttarakhand in 2016 after nine Congress MLAs, including former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, rebelled against the government led by Harish Rawat.

The rebellion erupted during a budget session when the dissident MLAs joined the BJP in demanding a division of votes on the Appropriation Bill.

The crisis led to President’s Rule being imposed in the state. However, unlike several other cases, the Supreme Court intervened and ordered a floor test. Harish Rawat ultimately proved his majority and briefly saved his government, though the Congress later lost the Assembly election.

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