Politicians who switched parties or quit politics ahead of Lok Sabha Election

The Lok Sabha election is around the corner and several politicians have either switched the parties or left the politics. Here are a few names of politicians who either ​switched parties or left politics ahead of the 2024 election.

Cricketer Gautam Gambhir has asked BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda to relieve him of his political duties as he begins his tenure as the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He tweeted, "I have requested Hon’ble Party President @JPNadda ji to relieve me of my political duties so that I can focus on my upcoming cricket commitments."

Former Union Minister and sitting BJP MP Harsh Vardhan announced his decision to quit politics. It came a day after the BJP released its first list of Lok Sabha election candidates, which did not include his name. He said, "After over thirty years of a glorious electoral career, during which I won all the five assembly and two parliamentary elections that I fought with exemplary margins, and held a multitude of prestigious positions in the party organisation and the governments at the state and centre, I finally bow out to return to my roots."

Senior Congress leader Suresh Pachouri left the party and formally joined BJP in Bhopal. After joining BJP, Pachouri slammed Congress, said, "Congress is now talking about the caste divide, which resulted in increasing caste conflict in the country now."

MP Rahul Kaswan resigned from BJP after being denied a ticket for the Lok Sabha elections and joined Congress. "I would like to thank Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Govind Singh Dotasra, and others for allowing me to join Congress,” Kaswan said at a press conference.

Haryana BJP MP Brijendra Singh parted ways with the BJP and joined Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He cited three main factors for feeling "uncomfortable" in BJP - farmers, women wrestlers and Agniveer scheme for recruitment into the armed forces.