Candidates losing deposits

Along with the polling date for the Lok Sabha elections inching closer, the notification by the candidates is set to be issued on Apr 12, while the nomination could be withdrawn by Apr 22.

From Apr 12 to 22, leaders and parties, whether small, large, or independent, try out their luck by contesting their election. However, most of them end up losing at a margin, which costs them their deposit amount.

The purpose of taking this deposit from the candidate is to ensure they participate seriously in the electoral process.

Candidates losing their deposits in Gujarat

In the last 10 Lok Sabha elections, out of a total of 3,011 candidates in Gujarat, the deposits of 2,478 have been forfeited.

From the national parties, 25 candidates of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and one candidate of the Communist Party of India (CPI) lost their deposits.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the highest number of 29 candidates lost their deposits from Surendranagar, 26 from Jamnagar, 24 from Ahmedabad East, and 23 from Navsari.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 282 out of 334 candidates had to lose their deposits.

Lok Sabha Election 2019 numbers in Gujarat

In the last Lok Sabha elections held in 2019, a total of 371 candidates contested from Gujarat. Of these, 81 were from national parties, 93 were from unrecognised parties, and 197 were independent candidates. Out of these, 319 had to lose their deposit.

The candidates who lost the deposit included 29 from national parties, 93 from unrecognised parties, and 197 independent candidates.

Nationwide, a total of 8,054 candidates were in the fray, and out of them, 6,923 had to lose their deposits in 2019.

Uttar Pradesh was at the top with 819 candidates losing their deposits, followed by Tamil Nadu with 774 and Maharashtra with 768.

In the 2019 general elections, 86% of the total candidates lost their deposits. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lost the most deposits at 345, followed by Congress at 148.

It is noteworthy that out of a total of 91,260 candidates who contested the Lok Sabha elections held from 1951 to 2019, 71,246 candidates have lost their deposits.

What is the concept of ‘losing a deposit?’

According to the rules of the Election Commission of India (ECI), if a candidate fails to secure at least one-sixth of the total valid votes, i.e., 16.6% of the votes, the candidate’s deposit is forfeited.

To contest the Lok Sabha elections, general category candidates have to deposit ₹25,000, and SC-ST category candidates have to deposit ₹12,500 as a security deposit.

If a candidate dies before polling, their candidature is cancelled, or withdraws candidature within the prescribed time, the deposit is duly returned.

Apart from this, the deposit is returned if the candidate secures a victory despite not getting the desired votes.

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