![FLOOR-CROSSERS](https://cdn.magzter.com/India Today/1720778137/articles/g74kyviXc1720792420716/FLOORCROSSERS.jpg)
RAHUL SINGH LODHI, 40
| BJP | Damoh, Madhya Pradesh
Just one switch shot till now makes him a near apprentice-but full of promise. From a family of feudatories in the outback, Lodhi won the Damoh assembly seat on a Congress ticket in 2018 against BJP veteran Jayant Malaiya. However, in 2020, he defected to the BJP and unsuccessfully contested a bypoll from the same seat in 2021. His defeat was rewarded with a Lok Sabha ticket: close ties with party veteran and caste-mate Prahlad Patel reportedly helped. Worthy of an alumnus of Christ Church Boys in Jabalpur-a nursery of bureaucrats and politicians for Mahakoshal and Bundelkhand.
NARAYANDAS AHIRWAR, 63
| SP | Jalaun (SC), UP
Usually, 'defectors' are spoken of in tones ranging from strong disparagement to mild amusementat best, conferred with a pragmatic tolerance of enlightened self-interest in politics. But Ahirwar's 2015 move to the SP, and his unseating of five-time BJP MP and Union minister Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma from a prize reserved constituency in Bundelkhand this time, also spoke of something more-primarily because of his political biography. As a twentysomething, Ahirwar was swept up into Kanshi Ram's DS4 movement, whence he became a founding member of the BSP in 1984. So if his departure was a sign of the attenuation of the BSP's Jatav core, Verma's loss became emblematic of even the nonJatavs deserting saffron.
BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA, 58
I SP | Jaunpur, UP
A key aide and minister under MayAk awati, Kushwaha was expelled from the BSP in 2011 due to his alleged role in a Rs 1,000 crore scam. After doing time in jail and a flirtation with the BJP, the Class XII pass founded the Jan Adhikar Party in 2016. As an SP man, he faced another convert, lassoed in from the Mumbai Congress. That Kripa Shankar Singh lost was a measure of Rajput ire at the BJP, subdued local don Dhananjay Singh being its symbol.
This story is from the July 22, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 22, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Can't Stop the Music](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/xq1tDbCWw1724419223134/CANT-STOP-THE-MUSIC.jpg)
Can't Stop the Music
Maestro Zubin Mehta is conducting two concerts in Mumbai dedicated to the works of Richard Strauss
![Remembrance of Things Art](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/FCzPAbcuc1724419091937/REMEMBRANCE-OF-THINGS-ART.jpg)
Remembrance of Things Art
Despite the lack of archival material, the book manages to piece together a portrait of artist and sculptor Leela Mukherjee
![Hitting the Spot](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/PJwJmjUeT1724418964201/HITTING-THE-SPOT.jpg)
Hitting the Spot
Artist Aditya Pande mixes traditional methods with digital techniques to create his artworks
![Common Thread](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/-FO7k4G3D1724418822431/COMMON-THREAD.jpg)
Common Thread
A new exhibition at Mumbai's 47-A showcases unique tales by 11 women textile artists from across India
![Tale of Two Artists](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/wNkALt0a51724418684088/TALE-OF-TWO-ARTISTS.jpg)
Tale of Two Artists
Twin solo exhibitions at KNMA, Delhi, showcase the interesting parallels between the works of Amitava and Mohan Samant
![Famous For Being Famous](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/cEU-cGPaP1724418569134/FAMOUS-FOR-BEING-FAMOUS.jpg)
Famous For Being Famous
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOCIAL MEDIA STAR UORFI JAVED THINKS SHE'S NOT WELL KNOWN ENOUGH. FOLLOW KAR LO YAAR, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO'S REALITY SERIES CENTRED AROUND HER LIFE, COULD REDRESS THAT
![GOOD BOY, BAD BOY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/aj16V3REh1724418408874/GOOD-BOY-BAD-BOY.jpg)
GOOD BOY, BAD BOY
ALI FAZAL, THE ACTOR AND NEWLY-MINTED FATHER, ON MIRZAPUR, THE CHARACTERS HE LIKES TO PLAY, AND THE BAD BOY IMAGE HE IS TRYING TO SHAKE OFF
![CROONING GLORY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/itYfIdqqW1724418228935/CROONING-GLORY.jpg)
CROONING GLORY
Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal continue to reign supreme with multiple chartbusters
![THE BACHCHAN SUPREMACY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/EiV5C4rQv1724417994249/THE-BACHCHAN-SUPREMACY.jpg)
THE BACHCHAN SUPREMACY
Amitabh Bachchan reclaims his throne, and only seems to be going stronger. His Kalki 2898 AD co-star Deepika Padukone is the No. 1 actress, yet again
![SOME NEW SHOTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5/1808387/AO6atT9Xr1724417803818/SOME-NEW-SHOTS.jpg)
SOME NEW SHOTS
World Cup winning heroes take over cricket, as Neeraj and Sindhu hold on to their No. 1 crowns. But Manu, Vinesh and Lakshya are new favourites