In the past four years (2022-2026), a total of 111 current Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assembly members have changed their political affiliations after winning elections. This finding comes from a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) in collaboration with National Election Watch, which analyzed the affidavits of these lawmakers. Nagaland recorded the highest number of such cases at 32, followed by West Bengal with 20.
Overview
The ADR report, released for the period 2022-2026, examined political defections among elected representatives across Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and state assemblies. It found that 26 Lok Sabha members, seven Rajya Sabha members, and 78 MLAs have switched parties since winning their respective elections.
Key Findings
The breakdown shows 26 Lok Sabha members, 7 Rajya Sabha members, and 78 MLAs have changed parties. Specifically, one MLA each from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, and Uttar Pradesh have switched allegiances. Additionally, 1 Rajya Sabha member from Delhi and 6 Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra have changed parties after their election victories.
Specific Cases and Requests
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee (Trinamool Congress MP) has written to the Lok Sabha Secretary requesting that lawmakers who joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) not be included in parliamentary committees. He cited pending disqualification petitions pending against them as the basis for this request. This appeal comes as several parliamentary committees’ terms are set to end this month (September), with reconstitution underway.
Implications for Parliamentary Committees
The Lok Sabha Secretariat is currently contacting political parties to obtain nominations for various parliamentary committees, as September September 26 marks the end of the term for 24 department-related parliamentary committees. This situation underscores the ongoing volatility in political allegiances and its impact on committee functioning.
