Assets of 324 MPs contesting for the second time increased by 43%, this time 3915 independents and 797 women candidates in the fray

In the last 15 years, the number of political parties contesting elections in the country has increased dramatically. This information has been given in a report released jointly by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch. According to this report, the number of political parties contesting the Lok Sabha elections has increased by 104 percent from 2009 to 2024. ADR analyzed the pre-election affidavits given by 8,337 candidates contesting the 2024 elections and provided some interesting information.

BJP has the highest number of women candidates

In the Lok Sabha elections this year, the Bharatiya Janata Party is leading among the major parties in terms of giving women candidates a chance. Out of 440 BJP candidates, 69 are women candidates. This is 16 percent of their total candidates. While Congress is second with 41 women out of 327 candidates i.e. 13 percent.

Women candidates from smaller parties too

Comparatively, minor parties fared better than major parties in this regard. Out of the 40 candidates of the Tamil Kachhi Dal, 20 are women. While Lok Janshakti Party and Nationalist Congress Party have 40 percent women candidates.

The wealth of the re-election candidates increased by 43 percent

According to an analysis by ADR and Election Watch, the wealth of the 324 MPs contesting again in this Lok Sabha election has grown by an average of 43 per cent over the past five years. The average wealth of these MPs in 2019 was Rs 21.55 crore, while in the current election the average wealth has increased to Rs 30.88 crore. Which in the last five years Rs. 9.33 crore showing an increase.

More than three thousand independent candidates

According to the ADR report, independent candidates have the largest share of 8,360 candidates. 3,915 candidates are contesting Lok Sabha elections as independents. After this, 2,580 candidates from registered unaffiliated parties are in the fray. 1,333 candidates are from national parties, while 532 candidates are contesting from regional parties.