The plan of Kaikeyi forms a prominent part of the Ayodhya Kanda. Kaikeyi, one of the wives of Dasaratha, was young and beautiful and also one of the favourite queens of the king. She has once saved Dasaratha during a battle with the rakshasas and therefore the king offered her two boons which she reserved for future. While Dasaratha ordered for the coronation of Rama, the news of the same was brought to Kaikeyi through Manthara, one of her maid servants. Manthara reminded Kaikeyi of the two boons and asked her queen to force her husband to make her son Bharata the king of Ayodhya and order Rama to go to the forest for fourteen years. Evil intention was aroused in the mind of Kaikeyi by Manthara and Kaikeyi desired her son Bharata to be the king of Ayodhya.

The kingdom of Ayodhya was delighted to get their new king in the form of Rama and the news of Rama`s coronation did not reach Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi was young and passionate and very beautiful. By nature she was generous, but not so kind or wise that she might not be swayed by the crooked promptings of her own desires or another`s instigation. She had a faithful old hump-backed nurse of an evil disposition and her name was Manthara. Now Manthara, hearing the rejoicings and learning that Rama was to be installed as heir-apparent, hurried to inform her mistress of this misfortune to Bharata, as Rama`s honour seemed to her narrow view. But Manthara`s words made Kaikeyi glad; she rejoiced that Rama should be heir, and gave a jewel to the humpbacked maid.

Manthara`s Counsel
After getting such a response from her queen Manthara became even angrier and threw away the jewel. Manthara told Kaikeyi that after Rama`s coronation she would be like the slave of Kaushalya and her son Bharata would be the servant of Rama. However, Kaikeyi was not moved to envy by the evil remarks of Manthara. When Manthara could not arouse anger in the mind of Kaikeyi against the coronation of Rama, she then told her that Rama after becoming the king would banish Bharata and Kaikeyi herself would be ill-treated by Kaushalya. After hearing this, Kaikeyi became furious and asked Manthara that Rama should be banished into the jungle and Bharata should be made the king of Ayodhya.

Then Manthara reminded her of an ancient pledge; how long ago in a great battle with the rakshasas Dasaratha had been wounded and almost slain; how Kaikeyi had found him unconscious on the field of battle, and borne him to a place of safety and there healed him; how Dasharatha had granted her two boons, and she reserved those boons to ask them from him when and as she would require. Manthara then told Kaikeyi to ask her husband that Rama should be banished to the jungle for fourteen years and Bharata should be made the king of Ayodhya.

Kaikeyi`s Anger
Thus Kaikeyi was led by the evil counsel of the hump-backed servant Manthara and rushed along an evil path. She thanked and praised her maid-servant, and promised her many rich rewards when Bharata should be set upon the throne. Then she tore off her jewels and beautiful garments, and flung herself down upon the floor of the Anger-chamber; she cried that she would give away her life if Rama is not banished into the forest. So, like a starry sky hidden by heavy clouds, that royal lady sulked and gloomed; like a bird-woman struck down by poisoned shafts, in her distress like a serpent`s daughter in her wrath.

Then, while it was still long before the dawn, Dasaratha decided to inform Kaikeyi of the coronation of Rama. Not getting his beloved queen in her painted bower nor in his own rooms, he learnt that she had gone to the Anger-chamber. There he followed, and beheld his youngest wife lying upon the ground like an uprooted vine or an ensnared doe.

Then that hero, like a forest elephant, tenderly touched the lotus-eyed queen and asked what ailed her. After getting consolation from her husband Kaikeyi informed him that no one had injured him but she had a desire which needs to be granted by him. Then Dasaratha swore by Rama himself that he would accomplish whatever she desired. Then Kaikeyi revealed her dreadful wish, calling the Heaven and Earth and Day and Night and household gods and every living thing to witness that he had promised to fulfill her will. She reminded him of that old war with the Asuras when she had saved his life and he had granted her two boons. She thus wanted the two boons which would be that Rama, clad in deer-skin, lead the life of a hermit in Dandaka forest for fourteen years, and Bharata be established as heir-apparent. Then she asked Dasaratha to prove his royal words as per his race and character. Thus, Dasaratha fell into a severe dilemma of his love for his son Rama in the one hand and his words given to Kaikeyi in the other.