Horse trading in Indian politics refers to the unethical practice where political parties lure or bribe members of rival parties-such as MLAs or MPs- to switch allegiance, often to secure a majority and form or topple a government. It typically occurs in situations of a hung assembly or when a party has only a marginal lead over others
. The term originated from the literal buying and selling of horses, where traders would engage in shrewd bargaining, sometimes dishonestly, to get better deals. In politics, it has come to mean secretive and manipulative negotiations involving vote trading, inducements, or promises of ministerial positions to sway legislators
. Horse trading undermines democratic values by compromising elected representatives' loyalty to their party and voters, causing government instability and perpetuating corruption. It has been a persistent issue in Indian politics since the mid-1960s, famously exemplified by the "Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram" phenomenon, where a Haryana MLA switched parties multiple times in a short span
. India has tried to curb horse trading through the Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule) introduced in 1985, which disqualifies legislators who defect from their parties. However, enforcement challenges remain, and horse trading continues to be a significant problem affecting governance and public trust
. In summary, horse trading in Indian politics is the buying and selling of political loyalty through inducements, often leading to unstable governments and corruption, especially visible during elections with no clear majority
