8.2. Deposits for Election

A candidate seeking election to the Parliament is required to deposit a fixed amount as security. The deposit will be refunded if the candidate is elected or has obtained more than one sixth of the total number of valid votes polled in the constituency. The deposit is intended to ensure that the candidate is a serious contestant.

In other cases, the deposit will be forfeited. If a candidate was a contesting candidate in more than one constituency for the same House of a legislature, he is entitled to the refund of only one deposit. If, however, he was contesting an Assembly seat and a Lok Sabha seat simultaneously, he would get a refund of the deposits made in both, provided that he obtains more than one-sixth of the total number of valid votes polled in each constituency. As per Section 34(1)(a) of the RPA, 1951, every candidate is required to make a security deposit of Rs. 25,000 for Lok Sabha elections (Rs 12,500 for SC/ST candidates). As per Sec. 34(1)(b) of the RPA 1951, a general candidate for contesting an Assembly election will have to make a security deposit of Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 for SC/ST candidates.