BJP's Lok Sabha candidate list reveals significant defection trend, nearly 25% candidates are defect
New Delhi: Out of the total 435 candidates that BJP has finalised for Lok Sabha polls, 106 candidates are those who have switched allegiances in the last 10 years. This is particularly seen in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, reflecting a significant trend of political defections across multiple states.
While it's not uncommon for leaders to switch allegiances in Indian politics, the scale at which this has occurred within the BJP's candidate list is striking. Out of the 435 candidates fielded by the BJP, a staggering 106 have joined the party from other political entities in the last decade, with 90 of them making the switch within the last five years alone.
Andhra Pradesh stands out with six BJP candidates originating from other parties since 2019, including unexpected shifts from Congress, YSRCP, and even the BJP's current ally, TDP. Similarly, in Telangana, almost two-thirds of the BJP's 17 candidates are defectors, primarily from BRS and Congress, with six joining the party just ahead of the elections.
While Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are states where BJP has had at best a limited presence in the past, even in Haryana, where it has been helping the state govt for a decade, six of its 10 candidates are those who have switched sides from 2014 onwards. Two of them — Naveen Jindal and Ashok Tanwar — joined in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls.
Punjab is also not far behind with over half the party’s 13 candidates having been drawn from those who were in other parties till not too long back. Some of them were in Congress but quit along with Amarinder Singh and became part of BJP when he merged his fledgling outfit with the saffron party.
Surprisingly, Uttar Pradesh, traditionally a stronghold for the BJP, also reflects a high proportion of defectors among its candidates, constituting 31% of the party's nominees in the state.
In Jharkhand, seven out of thirteen candidates have a history of membership in other political parties, dating back a decade or less. These candidates have defected from parties such as JMM, Congress, and the former Jharkhand Vikas Morcha. Notably, among them is Sita Soren, sister-in-law of the state's former chief minister, Hemant Soren.
The prevalence of such defectors in Odisha (29%) and Tamil Nadu (26%) is unsurprising, considering that these states have not traditionally been strongholds of the BJP. In Maharashtra, where a quarter of the candidates have switched sides, this trend reflects the significant political upheaval witnessed in the state, particularly in recent years.
West Bengal shares a similar proportion of such candidates with Maharashtra, while all other states have lower proportions. Even in Gujarat, widely regarded as the BJP's stronghold, two candidates have shifted to the party since 2014.
This analysis does not factor in allies contesting on BJP tickets. However, it does account for five instances of what could be termed as "gharwapsi" - BJP members who had previously switched to other parties but have returned to their original party fold. Notable examples include Jagdish Shettar in Karnataka, Udayanraje Bhonsale in Maharashtra, and Sakshi Maharaj in Uttar Pradesh.
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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
