With 3 seats, independents record worst-ever show

In terms of vote share, BJP is on the top with 31 per cent, followed by 19.3 per cent for Congress. Only seven parties have managed to get more than 3 per cent vote share and include BSP, Trinamool Congress, SP, ADMK and CPM.  

Those having lesser vote share than 3 per cent of independents include TDP (2.5 per cent), YSR Congress (2.5 per cent), AAP (2 per cent), Shiv Sena (1.9 per cent), DMK (1.7 per cent), BJD (1.7 per cent), NCP (1.6 per cent), RJD (1.3 per cent) and TRS (1.2 per cent).

The count of seats won by independents has been in single digits since 1991-92 polls. At that time, the seats won stood at five followed by nine (1996), six (1998 and 1999), five (2004) and nine (2009).

The independents would have got another seat had Ghulam Raza won in Ladakh, which has seen the lowest victory margin of 36 votes in this election.

Raza, who garnered 31,075 votes, lost to BJP candidate Thupstan Chhewang who recorded 31,111 votes.

Till now, the highest number of winning independent candidates were seen in 1957 elections when they won 42 seats.  

In Indian Lok Sabha electoral history, only on six occasions independents have won seats in double digits.  

Besides, 1952 and 1957, independent candidates won 20 seats (in 1962 elections), 35 seats (1967), 14 seats (1971) and 12 seats (1989).