Despite a crowded electoral field in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, voter support ultimately consolidated around a limited number of candidates, leading to a large-scale forfeiture of security deposits. Of the total 993 candidates who contested the elections, 653 candidates failed to secure the minimum required vote share, resulting in the forfeiture of their deposits.
Election officials said that only 340 candidates managed to obtain the prescribed minimum percentage of votes, while the remaining 653—nearly 66 per cent of the total contestants—lost their deposits. As a result, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation received an estimated ₹26 lakh, which will help offset part of the election expenditure.
Independent candidates bore the brunt of the outcome. Of the 236 independent candidates, as many as 231 lost their deposits, with only a handful managing to cross the required vote threshold. The results highlighted the difficulty independents face in converting candidature into electoral success.
Several recognised political parties were also affected. Among major parties, the Bahujan Samaj Party suffered the heaviest losses, with deposit forfeiture reported for 69 candidates, and only one councillor elected. Other parties that saw candidates lose deposits include 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).
As per election rules, general category candidates are required to deposit ₹5,000, while candidates belonging to reserved categories and women deposit ₹2,500. Officials said the forfeited amount would be credited to the civic body’s treasury and used for election-related expenses.
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