In the recently concluded Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, a large number of candidates lost their security deposits as voter support concentrated around a limited group of contenders. Out of 993 candidates who contested, 653 failed to secure the minimum required vote share, resulting in the forfeiture of their deposits.
Election officials reported that only 340 candidates met the prescribed vote threshold, while nearly 66% of participants—653 candidates—lost their deposits. Consequently, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation received approximately ₹26 lakh, which will help offset part of the election expenses.
Independent candidates were hit hardest by this outcome. Of the 236 independents, a staggering 231 lost their deposits, underscoring the challenges faced by independents in translating candidature into electoral success.
Several established political parties also suffered significant losses. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) faced the largest impact, with 69 candidates forfeiting deposits and only one councillor elected. Other parties with candidates losing deposits included the Aam Aadmi Party (63), Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) (78), Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) (37), Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Shiv Sena (21), and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (31).
According to election rules, general category candidates must deposit ₹5,000, while candidates from reserved categories and women pay ₹2,500. The forfeited amounts are credited to the civic body’s treasury and used to cover election-related costs.
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