Election FAQ: This time, 8,039 vie for 542 LS seats

An average of 15 candidates are contesting in a Lok Sabha constituency in this General Elections with six constituencies from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu finding a place in top ten seats from where most number of people are seeking voters' approval.

Nizamabad, where a large number of protesting farmers filed nominations, in Telangana topped the list with 185 candidates while Belgaum in Karnataka came a distant second with 57 candidates followed by Karur in Tamil Nadu with 42 candidates.

An analysis by PRS Legislative Research of Election Commission data showed that five constituencies in Tamil Nadu and two in Karnataka besides Telangana's Nizamabad were in the top ten positions which have maximum number of candidates. The five constituencies that have the highest candidate representation are from the southern states of Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Besides Karur, Tamil Nadu had Chennai South (40), Thoothukudi (37) and Chennai Central (31) in Tamil on fourth, fifth and ninth position respectively and Bengaluru North (31). In Karnataka, Bengaluru North too had 31 seats.

Altogether there are 8,039 candidates fighting 542 seats for which elections are held in seven phases ending May 19. Elections for one seat in Tamil Nadu has been countermanded.

"On average, 14.8 candidates are contesting per constituency across the country. Among all the states, Telangana has the highest average number of candidates contesting. This is primarily due to 185 contestants from Nizamabad. Excluding Nizamabad, the state’s average number of contestants would be 16.1," the PRS analysis said.

While the number of independents elected to Lok Sabha have been dwindling over years, the analysis showed that Tamil Nadu had the higest average of unattached candidate after Telangana. On average, of the candidates in each constituency in Tamil Nadu, two-thirds are contesting as independent candidates.

A recent DH analysis had shown that the number of independent MPs who were the second largest group in the first Lok Sabha in 1952 after Congress with 36 members has come down to just 3 in the outgoing House. Since 1952, the Lok Sabha has seen a total of 202 independent members.

National Parties and Number of Candidates

BJP – 435 Congress – 420 BSP – 383 CPI(M) – 69 Trinamool Congress – 62 CPI – 48 NCP – 34 Source: PRS Legislative Research

When it comes to national parties, the analysis said BJP has fielded the highest number of 435 candidates followed by Congress at 420 and BSP 383. Other national parties CPI(M) has fielded 69 candidates while Trinamool Congress has 62 candidates, CPI 48 and NCP 34.

"In 373 seats, they (BJP and Congress) are in competition with each other...The seven national parties together fielded 2.69 candidates per constituency. Among the largest five states, West Bengal has the highest representation of candidates from national parties, at 4.6. In that state, candidates from five national parties are contesting," the analysis said.

Constituencies with Highest Number of Candidates

185 Nizamabad, Telangana 57 Belgaum, Karnataka 42 Karur, Tamil Nadu 40 Chennai South, Tamil Nadu 37 Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu 36 Beed, Maharashtra Chandigarh 35 Nalanda, Bihar 31 Bengaluru North Chennai Central Madha, Maharashtra Pune, Maharashtra Surendranagar, Gujarat 30 Theni, Tamil Nadu Nagpur, Maharashtra Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Amritsar, Punjab Source: PRS Legislative Research