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Politics
111 Indian MPs and MLAs Changed Parties in Four Years, 26% Joined BJP, ADR Report Shows
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 27 Sep 2026, 10:16 PM
👁 21
A recent ADR study finds that 111 members of Parliament and state legislatures switched parties between 2020 and 2024, with over a quarter moving to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) released a comprehensive analysis covering the period from 2020 to 2024, revealing that a total of 111 elected representatives – comprising both Members of Parliament and state legislators – changed their party affiliation during the four‑year span. The data shows that 26 per cent of these defections were to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), making it the single largest beneficiary of the switches.
Geographically, the report highlights notable concentrations of party changes in states such as Nagaland and West Bengal, where several legislators moved to the BJP or other regional outfits. While the numbers are modest compared with the total strength of legislatures, the pattern underscores a growing fluidity in Indian party politics.
Political analysts say the trend reflects both strategic realignments ahead of upcoming elections and the BJP’s continued effort to broaden its footprint across diverse regions. The ADR study, based on official election affidavits and party records, does not attribute the moves to any single cause but notes that electoral calculations and ideological shifts are common drivers.
The findings arrive as the nation prepares for the next general election cycle, prompting parties to reassess candidate loyalty and coalition dynamics. Observers will watch whether the BJP can convert these defections into tangible electoral gains in the forthcoming polls.
Geographically, the report highlights notable concentrations of party changes in states such as Nagaland and West Bengal, where several legislators moved to the BJP or other regional outfits. While the numbers are modest compared with the total strength of legislatures, the pattern underscores a growing fluidity in Indian party politics.
Political analysts say the trend reflects both strategic realignments ahead of upcoming elections and the BJP’s continued effort to broaden its footprint across diverse regions. The ADR study, based on official election affidavits and party records, does not attribute the moves to any single cause but notes that electoral calculations and ideological shifts are common drivers.
The findings arrive as the nation prepares for the next general election cycle, prompting parties to reassess candidate loyalty and coalition dynamics. Observers will watch whether the BJP can convert these defections into tangible electoral gains in the forthcoming polls.