King Dasaratha of Ayodhya had two wives, Kausalya and Kaikeyi. Lord Rama was the son of Kausalya, and Bharata was the son of Kaikeyi. When King Dasaratha was quite old, he decided to install his favorite son, Rama, as king. However, Queen Kaikeyi came to fear that after coronation she and her son would be banished from the kingdom. Therefore she devised a plot to deprive Lord Rama of His rightful claim to the throne. 

Previously, when King Dasaratha had been in battle, he was severely wounded and lay unconscious on the ground. At that time Kaikeyi had tended to his injuries and nursed him back to health. For that the king promised her two benedictions. Now she approached him and requested that he fulfill her two requests. Kaikeyi said, "Let my son, Bharata, be installed as king. Also, let Rama live in the forest as a hermit for fourteen years." 

Because of his righteousness, King Dasaratha could not refuse the request of his wife. Thus the preparations that had been made for the coronation of Lord Rama were used for the coronation of Bharata, and Rama was banished to the forest. Out of love, Rama's consort, Srimati Sitadevi, accompanied Him, as did His younger brother Laksmana.