Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 4: At least 25 prominent politicians from opposition ranks, who were under investigation by Central agencies in corruption cases, have shifted allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2014, when Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
According to a recent report from The Indian Express, out of these 25 politicians, 23 have seen their cases come to a halt or get closed altogether after joining the BJP. The report, published on April 3, highlights a concerning pattern where politicians facing probes found relief after switching sides.
The report indicates that among the politicians who joined the BJP, six made the switch in anticipation of the Lok Sabha Elections in 2024. This influx of political defectors, coupled with the resolution of their legal troubles, raises questions about the impartiality of investigations and the integrity of the political landscape.
The Indian Express had previously shed light on this issue in a 2022 report, revealing that a significant majority of politicians targeted by central investigation agencies post-2014 belonged to opposition parties. This pattern has sparked allegations from the opposition of the ruling BJP misusing investigative agencies for political gains.
In light of recent events, such as the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren in corruption cases investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), concerns about the independence of investigative agencies have only heightened.
The Indian Express report specifically mentions cases involving Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel, both prominent leaders of the NCP faction, which were closed following their switch to the BJP. This trend is particularly striking in Maharashtra, where several high-profile politicians have made similar transitions.
For instance, Ajit Pawar's case saw a significant turn of events: initially closed by the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) during his tenure in the previous government, it was reopened upon the BJP's return to power in Maharashtra. However, with Pawar's subsequent alignment with the NDA, the case was once again closed, rendering the ED's actions against him futile.
The report also mentions cases involving leaders like Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal and Hemanta Biswa Sarma in Assam, both of whom found shelter in the BJP amid ongoing investigations.