111 MPs and MLAs present changed political party after election: ADR

People walk past a banner of the rebel Trinamool Congress faction displayed outside the Trinamool Bhavan, in Kolkata, West Bengal, on July 3, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

A total of 111 MPs and MLAs present changed their political parties after being elected to the current Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and State Assemblies from 2022. Among them, 26 were members of the Lok Sabha, seven were members of the Rajya Sabha and 78 were members of legislative assemblies, according to an analysis by the Association for Reforms and National Democratic Watch (ADR).

The analysis was based on elections and by-elections between 2022 and 2026.

Nagaland recorded the highest number of party changes with 32 (29%) MPs/MLAs, followed by West Bengal with 20 (18%).

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In terms of political parties, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), the All India Trinamool Congress and the Indian National Congress together accounted for 64 (58%) of the 111 MPs/MLAs who switched parties.

The highest number of party changes was recorded for representatives originally elected from NDPP (25, 23%), followed by Trinamool (20, 18%) and Congress (19, 17%).

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accounted for nine (8%) party changes, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) accounted for seven (6%) each. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) represented six (5%), followed by the Janata Dal (United) with five (5%) and the National People’s Party (NPP) with four (4%).

Notably, the recent fall of governments in some state assemblies has been attributed to the defection of their MLAs, the report said.

In terms of parties that got the maximum number of legislators in their fold, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) led the way with 32 (29%) joining the party, followed by the BJP with 29 (26%) and the Nationalist Civic Party of India (NCPI) with 20 (18%).

Congress received nine (8%), Shiv Sena eight (7%), NPP six (5%) and Arunachal People’s Party four (4%).

Overall, NPF, BJP and NCPI together accounted for 81 (73%) of the 111 MPs/MLAs who joined other political parties.

Published – 24 Sep 2026 21:35 IST