Independents lose vote share, seats in assembly elections

Independent candidates have lost their vote share as well as number of seats substantially in assembly polls across four states, even as their performance has improved in Manipur since 2012.
Independent candidates' vote share has sharply declined in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.
Among the five states, Goa saw the highest vote share for independent candidates at 11.1 per cent, although down from 16.6 per cent in the last assembly elections.
Three such candidates won their seats in Goa, as compared to five in 2012.
On the other hand, independent candidates' vote share in Manipur rose to 5.2 per cent in 2017 assembly elections from 3.3 per cent in last polls. This time, one candidate managed to win a seat, while no seat was won by independents in 2012 polls.

Independent candidates' vote share fallen to 10 per cent in Uttarakhand compared to 12.3 per cent in 2012. Besides, the number of seats of such candidates declined by 1 to 2 seats currently.

The vote share of independent candidates dropped to 2.6 per cent in UP in this elections from 4.13 per cent in 2012. The number of winning candidates in UP has halved to three this time.
In Punjab, the vote share of such candidates declined to 2.1 per cent compared to 6.75 per cent. Moreover, seats won by such candidate reduced to nil from three in last poll.

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, independents could not win any seat in these states.
While, the BJP has won the elections with a massive mandate in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Congress got a thumping majority in Punjab. Goa and Manipur have seen a split verdict with Congress having a slight edge over BJP.