ADR Analyses 111 MPs, MLAs Who Switched Parties
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch have conducted a comprehensive examination of 111 sitting Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies who switched their political affiliations following their election to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Assemblies. This examination encompasses electoral contests held between 2022 and 2026, including by-elections conducted throughout this time frame, To facilitate this examination, the 111 instances of elected MPs and MLAs who transitioned to different political parties have been systematically organized into four separate classifications, each determined by the specific characteristics and mechanisms underlying the party change. These categories are: (i) Individual switch / defection, where a legislator voluntarily left one party and joined another without resigning from the House; (ii) Party merger, where the original party (or a substantial section of its legis...