New Delhi: A joint analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch found that 111 sitting MPs and MLAs have switched political parties after being elected to the current Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state assemblies since 2022.
The analysis said the 111 legislators included 26 Lok Sabha members, seven Rajya Sabha members and 78 MLAs.
Of those who left their parties, 64 — more than half — belonged to just three parties: the National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Trinamool Congress and Congress.
The NDPP recorded the highest number of leaders switching parties, with 25 of its leaders changing political affiliation, accounting for 23% of the total. The Trinamool Congress had 20 leaders (18%) switch parties, while 19 Congress leaders (17%) changed parties.
The analysis also listed nine leaders from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), seven each from the Aam Aadmi Party and Nationalist Congress Party, six from Shiv Sena (Thackeray), five from Janata Dal (United) and four from the National People’s Party (NPP) among those who switched parties.
NPF inducted most leaders
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) emerged as the party that inducted the highest number of legislators who had switched parties, with 32 leaders joining it, or 29% of the total.
The BJP inducted 29 leaders (26%), while the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) inducted 20 (18%). Congress inducted nine (8%), Shiv Sena eight (7%), NPP six (5%) and the People’s Party of Arunachal four (4%).
Together, the NPF, BJP and NCPI accounted for 81 of the 111 legislators who switched parties, or 73% of the total, according to the analysis.
The report also noted that the recent fall of governments in some state assemblies was linked to legislators switching parties.
The analysis was based on elections and by-elections held between 2022 and 2026.
