Tamil Nadu: Despite Crossing Double Digit Vote Share, 10 BJP Candidates Lose Deposits In Lok Sabha Polls

In a first, the BJP has secured a double-digit vote share in Tamil Nadu despite failing to open an account.

From gaining a paltry 3.66 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, its vote share surged to 11.24 per cent in 2024, surpassing that of the Congress, which stood at 10.67 per cent. This places it as the third highest, trailing behind DMK's 26.93 per cent and ADMK's 20.46 per cent.

Notably, it clinched the second position in nine constituencies, while its allies secured this spot in three others.

Despite its improved performance, the saffron party, which has always been considered as an outsider or a North Indian party, has lost deposits in 10 seats.

Candidate Who Lost Deposits

Tiruvallur(Pon V Balaganapathy), Chennai North (R.C. Paul Kanagaraj), Tiruvannamalai(A Ashwathaman), Tirupur(AP Muruganandam), Karur (V V Senthilnathan), Namakkal(KP Ramalingam), Thanjavur(M Muruganandanam), Virudhunagar(Radikaa Sarathkumar), Nagapattinam (S G M Ramesh) and Chidambaram (P Karthiyayini) are the 10 seats where the BJP lost its deposits.

In addition to it, 10 NDA candidates have lost their security deposits.

The six candidates from Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in Kancheepuram, Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Salem, Villupuram, and Mayiladuthurai were unable to retain their deposits.

According to EC regulations, a candidate must secure a minimum of one-sixth (16.67 percent) of the total votes polled in the constituency to retain their security deposit.

On the other hand, the DMK-led INDIA bloc came out with flying colours, winning all the seats while the AIADMK, despite 20.46 per cent vote share, has failed to win seats.