📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Politics
111 MPs, MLAs switch parties since 2022; Nagaland, West Bengal top anti-defection list
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 25 Sep 2026, 08:32 PM
👁 11
Since 2022, a total of 111 members of Parliament and state legislatures have changed party affiliation, with Nagaland and West Bengal recording the highest numbers of defections on the anti‑defection register.
The data compiled by the anti‑defection monitoring body shows that 111 elected representatives – comprising both Members of Parliament and state legislators – have switched parties between 2022 and the present. The tally reflects a noticeable rise in political realignments ahead of upcoming elections at both the centre and the states.
Nagaland and West Bengal stand out in the report, recording the highest number of defections among all states. Analysts attribute the trend in Nagaland to shifting alliances among regional parties, while West Bengal’s numbers are linked to ongoing factional battles within major state parties.
Political observers warn that such movements could affect the stability of existing governments and may trigger further scrutiny under the anti‑defection law. The monitoring agency has urged parties to adhere to the legal provisions that discourage opportunistic party hopping.
The phenomenon underscores the fluid nature of India’s party politics, where strategic calculations often prompt legislators to seek new platforms. The next parliamentary session may see heightened debates on strengthening anti‑defection safeguards.
Nagaland and West Bengal stand out in the report, recording the highest number of defections among all states. Analysts attribute the trend in Nagaland to shifting alliances among regional parties, while West Bengal’s numbers are linked to ongoing factional battles within major state parties.
Political observers warn that such movements could affect the stability of existing governments and may trigger further scrutiny under the anti‑defection law. The monitoring agency has urged parties to adhere to the legal provisions that discourage opportunistic party hopping.
The phenomenon underscores the fluid nature of India’s party politics, where strategic calculations often prompt legislators to seek new platforms. The next parliamentary session may see heightened debates on strengthening anti‑defection safeguards.