Contesting Candidates and Deposit Forfeitures in India from 1st Lok Sabha Election to 18th Lok Sabha Election

The first general election saw 1,874 candidates competing for 489 seats, averaging about 3.8 candidates per constituency. This relatively modest figure gradually increased through the 1960s and early 1970s, reflecting the natural evolution of multi-party democracy, with participation rising to 2,784 candidates by 1971. A dramatic shift occurred in the 1980s, with candidate numbers nearly doubling from 2,439 in 1977 to 4,629 in 1980, and continuing to rise steadily to 6,160 by 1989. The 1991-92 election saw another substantial jump to 8,749 candidates. This trend culminated in the 1996 election, which witnessed an extraordinary 13,952 candidates—the highest number in Indian electoral history, averaging about 25.7 candidates per constituency. This explosion in candidacy likely reflected both growing political fragmentation and the relatively low deposit requirements at that time. Following this peak, a sharp correction occurred in 1998, when candidate numbers plummeted to 4,750—just 34% of the previous election’s figure. This dramatic decline coincided with the Election Commission’s decision to substantially increase the security deposit for Lok Sabha elections, from Rs. 500 to Rs. 10,000 for general candidates (and from Rs. 250 to Rs. 5,000 for SC/ST candidates). This policy intervention successfully reduced the number of non-serious candidates, bringing greater clarity to ballot papers. The 21st century has seen more stable candidate participation, with numbers gradually increasing from 4,648 in 1999 to 8,360 in 2024, averaging about 15-16 candidates per constituency in recent elections.

The deposit forfeiture data reveals that historically, a large majority of candidates have failed to secure significant vote shares. In the first election, approximately 40% of candidates lost their deposits. This proportion grew steadily over the decades, reaching about 61% by 1971 and 76% by 1989. The 1996 election saw not only the highest absolute number of candidates but also the highest rate of deposit forfeitures at nearly 91%. In recent elections, the forfeiture rate has consistently remained above 85%, with 7,190 candidates (86% of all contestants) losing their deposits in 2024. This persistently high forfeiture rate suggests that despite the increased deposit requirements, many candidates continue to contest with little realistic chance of electoral success, participating perhaps to gain visibility, establish a political presence, or split votes. These trends reflect the remarkable openness of India’s electoral system, which allows widespread participation while attempting to balance inclusivity with practical election management considerations.