Archive · 25 Sep 2026
ADR Reports 111 Lawmakers Switched Parties Since 2022
A report studied lawmakers who changed political parties after winning elections.
It found 111 such cases between 2022 and 2026.
They included members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state assemblies.
Nagaland had the most cases, with 32 lawmakers changing parties.
West Bengal had 20 cases involving Lok Sabha members.
The changes happened through defections, mergers, resignations followed by bypoll wins, or disqualifications followed by bypoll wins.
The Naga People's Front received the largest number of lawmakers, followed by the BJP.
ADR said some defections were linked to governments falling in state assemblies.
It wants clearer deadlines and different authorities to handle disqualification decisions.
ADR and National Election Watch found 111 lawmakers changed parties between 2022 and 2026.
The cases involved 26 Lok Sabha members, seven Rajya Sabha members and 78 MLAs.
Nagaland recorded the most switches with 32, followed by West Bengal with 20.
The Naga People's Front received the most lawmakers at 32, followed by the BJP with 29.
ADR recommended deadlines and changes to how disqualification petitions are decided.
- Who
- The Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch analyzed 111 MPs and MLAs who changed parties.
- What
- The analysis identified 26 Lok Sabha members, seven Rajya Sabha members and 78 MLAs who changed parties after winning elections.
- When
- Between 2022 and 2026; the report was released on September 25.
- Where
- Across India, with the highest numbers recorded in Nagaland and West Bengal.
- Why
- The cases involved defections, party mergers, resignations followed by bypoll victories, and disqualifications followed by bypoll victories.
- Total lawmakers
- 111
- Lawmakers by house
- 26 Lok Sabha members, 7 Rajya Sabha members and 78 MLAs
- Highest state total
- Nagaland: 32 cases, all involving MLAs
- Second-highest state total
- West Bengal: 20 cases, all involving Lok Sabha members
- Largest source party
- Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party: 25 lawmakers changed parties
- Largest recipient party
- Naga People's Front: 32 lawmakers joined
- Recommended reforms
- Decision deadlines, new authorities for disqualification petitions, and restrictions on defectors holding public office until re-election
- Data limitation
- ADR said the analysis may not be exhaustive because no systematically maintained official database exists
