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Monday, February 23, 2026
TopicDefection

Topic: Defection

Zakia Khanam, Andhra MLC booked for selling Tirupati VIP tickets in black, jumps ship from YSRCP to BJP

Khanam, a Muslim leader from Rayachoti in Rayalaseema, was nominated to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council under Governor's quota in July 2020. She has now resigned from Council.

PK’s poll predictions are out of this world & the candidate who pirouettes for change

The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

Why do political leaders defect or stay? Look beyond obvious answers of ideology, money, power

Indian politics wouldn’t be a fraction as fascinating as it is if it did not defy any idea that looks obvious or an answer that begins with ‘of course’.

An intel ‘mechanism’ to alert AAP seniors — Kejriwal’s fix to plug defections on new turf

Delhi CM Kejriwal’s directions part of a larger road map chalked out by him for AAP office-bearers in 9 states where the party is looking to expand in coming years.

One lone, brave voice stood up against anti-defection law in 1985. All his predictions came true

When it comes to anti-defection law, the cure is worse than the disease.

For every Himanta, there’re Scindias, Bahugunas — why defecting to BJP isn’t always a ticket to power

Two leaders have recently moved to the BJP despite a growing unease in the party about this ‘politics of defections’. But defections now aren’t the same as they were earlier.

42% of MLAs who switched parties during 2016-2020 polls left Congress, 4% left BJP: ADR report

ADR analyses affidavits of 433 MPs and MLAs who changed their parties and re-contested elections in the last five years, says fundamental principle of value-based politics now skewed.

NCP leader’s move to Shiv Sena just the beginning, Maharashtra readies for opposition exodus

Lok Sabha poll drubbing, disarray in Congress could see more opposition leaders defecting to ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine ahead of Maharashtra elections.

As more Karnataka MLAs resign, do defectors win elections? Data holds the answer

Indian voters care more about parties than candidates, whether they are turncoats or not.

Defections haunt Congress in Maharashtra, party may lose opposition leader post in Assembly

About 4-5 Congress MLAs in Maharashtra are likely to join the BJP next month. This will bring down the Congress tally of 42 in a 288-member House.

On Camera

Life in Delhi isn’t easy for Northeast Indians. Racism is always round the corner

Racism is a problem for privileged mainlanders only when it's meted out to them abroad. In their own backyard, it's normalised as 'I was just kidding. Chill yaar'.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

IAF’s Tejas fleet undergoes ‘maintenance check’, decision on airframe yet to be taken

The 7 February incident involving Tejas aircraft caused severe damage to its frame. IAF and HAL are working together as part of the Board of Inquiry (BoI) to probe the incident.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.