In an era of diminishing political and ideological loyalties, the voter in 2024 has sent a strong signal to turncoats. A turncoat is an MP candidate in a Lok Sabha poll who contested their previous election as a candidate of another recognised State/national party. The previous election they faced could be for an MLA seat or for an MP seat.
Of the 441 candidates fielded by the BJP 130 odd were turncoats. 110 of them joined after 2014. Almost 70% lost. Worse losses for turncoats who joined the BJP were higher in states where the BJP lost more ground. This indicates cadre and voter anger against those who try to cash in on the winnability criteria that drive candidate selection in parties. Rahul Shrivastava analyses how turncoats from all parties in most states fared badly, but there were many who won.