Which of the following Parliamentary (Loksabha) Constituency had the most candidates in Loksabha Election 2019?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:

The correct option is **3 (Nizamabad)**. This constituency, located in the state of Telangana, holds the unique record for having the highest number of candidates in a single Lok Sabha constituency during the 2019 General Elections, with an astonishing **185 candidates** contesting the seat. This extraordinary number of candidates was not due to widespread political participation from major parties, but rather a unique form of protest. A large group of turmeric (Haldi) and red sorghum (Jowar) farmers filed their nominations en masse to draw national attention to their long-standing demands for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the establishment of a Turmeric Board. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) rules, if the number of contesting candidates exceeds 64 in any constituency, a special arrangement is required, as a standard Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) can only accommodate up to 16 names (including NOTA). Since Nizamabad had 185 candidates, the Election Commission had to employ 12 Ballot Units (BUs), connected to a single Control Unit (CU) and a VVPAT machine, in each of the 1,788 polling stations. This logistical challenge highlights Nizamabad's distinction as the constituency with the most candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha Election.

The incorrect option is 1:

**Asansol**, a constituency in West Bengal, was one of the high-profile seats in the 2019 elections, featuring a contest between Babul Supriyo and Moon Moon Sen. However, the number of candidates contesting from Asansol was significantly lower than Nizamabad. Unlike Nizamabad, Asansol's contest was primarily a traditional political fight between two major parties and their alliances, without the mass protest nominations seen in the Telangana constituency. Therefore, the total number of candidates in Asansol remained within the standard range, far below the record 185 candidates.

The incorrect option is 2:

**Vellore** is a Parliamentary Constituency in Tamil Nadu. While Tamil Nadu generally sees robust multi-party contests, Vellore did not host the highest number of candidates in 2019. In fact, the election in the Vellore constituency was notably different from the others listed, as it was ultimately countermanded by the Election Commission of India (ECI) due to the recovery of a massive amount of cash allegedly intended for distribution to voters. The re-poll was held later. The number of official contestants who initially filed for Vellore was also substantially lower than the 185 candidates in Nizamabad.

The incorrect option is 4:

**Anantnag**, located in Jammu & Kashmir (then a state), is known for its geographically challenging terrain and complex security situation. The total number of candidates in Anantnag was relatively low compared to Nizamabad, often reflecting the political volatility and specific regional dynamics of the Kashmir Valley. Furthermore, due to security concerns, the election in Anantnag was conducted over three separate phases, a highly unusual arrangement necessary for logistical and security planning. Despite these complexities, the number of contestants did not come close to the exceptional number seen in Nizamabad, making Anantnag incorrect in this context.