Defection Epidemic: Over 1,000+ Leaders Jump Ship Since 2014, Which Party Emerges as Top Destination? ADR Report Reveals

ADR Report: With the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, all the political parties are trying to bring more and more people with them. In this sequence, recently Sharad Pawar has suffered another big setback. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Legislative Councilor Eknath Khadse recently announced that he will leave the party Nationalist Congress and join the BJP in the coming 15 days.

Although the politics of defection is no longer a new and surprising thing in Maharashtra or any other state. But three decades ago, any leader changing his party in this manner was considered a betrayal.

In the decade of 1985, when Chhagan Bhujbal and Narayan Rane left Shiv Sena, they had to face serious threats from party workers. Not only this, most of the MLAs who left the party with them could not get re-elected.

Well, now let’s come to the real point…

Defection statistics in India

In India, the game of politicians changing parties started in Haryana in the year 1960-70. But gradually this disease spread all over India. After the year 2014, the cases of politicians changing parties increased rapidly. 

According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms, from 2014 to 2021, more than 1,000 MP and MLA level leaders have joined the game of defection.

After 2014, most number of defectors joined BJP

After the year 2014, most leaders from different parties have joined BJP. According to the ADR report, from 2014 to 2021 alone, 426 MLA-MP level leaders have joined BJP. 

If we talk about 2021 to 2023, till this year, about 200 MLA and MP level leaders have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

From 2021 to 2023, the maximum defection took place in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. During this period, only 176 turncoats joined the opposition party Congress.

Apart from Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, the most preferred place for turncoats are NDA allies like Shiv Sena and LJP. 

Rising Defections: BJP’s Magnetism in Indian Politics Since 2014

In conclusion, the phenomenon of defection in Indian politics has been on the rise, particularly since 2014. The recent announcement of Eknath Khadse’s departure from the Nationalist Congress Party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party adds to the list of over 1,000 leaders who have switched parties in the past decade. While defections are no longer considered surprising, they reflect the fluid nature of political alliances and the pursuit of power by leaders across party lines. The BJP has emerged as a favored destination for defectors, with a significant number of leaders joining its ranks since 2014. This trend underscores the importance of strategic alliances and the changing dynamics of Indian politics.

Must Read:

.