Successive lok Sabha elections have shown a rising trend in candidates forfeiting their deposit, but this has not stopped people from throwing their hat in the electoral ring.
Election Commission rules say that if a candidate fails to get a minimum of one-sixth of the total valid votes polled, the deposit goes to the treasury.
A candidate contesting from a general seat has to deposit Rs25,000 as security deposit. The amount is Rs12,500 for candidates contesting from reserved seats.
In First lok Sabha Elections in 1951-52, almost 40 per cent or 745 out of 1874 candidates forfeited their deposits.
Since then, almost all lok Sabha elections have witnessed upward trend in candidates losing their deposits.
EC data shows that the peak came in the 11th general elections when 12,688 out of 13,952 candidates lost their deposits. This was the elections which also saw highest number of candidates contesting the polls. The 2009 elections to elect the 15th lok Sabha saw as many as 85 per cent of the candidates losing their deposits. Percentage-wise, it was the third highest after 91 per cent in 1996 elections and 86 per cent in 1991 elections.
It shows that forfeiture of deposit has not been a deterrent. Candidates from national parties have fared well in saving their deposits. In first general elections in 1951-52, 28 per cent or 344 out of 1217 candidates from national parties lost their deposits.