Candidates from smaller parties forfeit security

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 11

Fringe parties and independent candidates failed to make their presence felt as nearly 80 per cent of these candidates had to forfeit their deposits in the district.

In the Bathinda (Urban) Assembly segment, all candidates from lesser known parties or fighting elections independently lost their security. .

In Bathinda (Urban), Suresh Kumar (BSP candidate), got 913 votes, Satish Kumar (independent) got 526 votes, Praveen Hiteshi (Shivsena) got 418 votes, Shant Lal (Bhujan Mukt Party) got 382 votes, Bimla Rani (independent) got 337 votes, Jatinder Rai Khattar (Apna Punjab Party) got 295 votes, Gian Chand Bansal (Democratic Swaraj Party) got 258 votes, Sukhchian Singh (Hindustan Shivsena) got 212 votes, Harvinder Singh of SAD (A) got 157 votes and Hardeep Sharma (Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Party) got only 105 votes.

A majority of independent candidates didn’t campaign personally or use any kind of media as part of canvassing in the constituency at all.

As per the rules of the Election Commission of India, to save the security deposit from being forfeited, a candidate should get at least one-sixth of the total votes cast.