No of pol parties increased over 30 times since Independence

The number of registered political parties in this year's Lok Sabha polls has surged to a record 1687, an increase of over 30 times since the first elections were fought after Independence.
According to figures released by the Election Commission, only 53 parties had contested in 1952 while the figure stood at 363 during the 2009 Parliamentary elections.
The sharp rise from 363 to 1,687 can be attributed to emergence and success of newbie Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi assembly elections held last year.
In the first Lok Sabha polls, out of 53 parties, 14 were national and 39 regional.

In 1962, only 6 national parties and 11 regional parties participated in the general elections out of 27 parties. Ten 'registered but not recognised' parties also took part in the second elections.
In the sixth Lok Sabha elections in 1977 held after the Emergency, 34 parties contested the elections, out of which five national and 15 regional parties had put up their candidates.

The country witnessed another elections just after three years, in which six national, 19 regional, and 11 'registered but not recognised' parties contested.
The number kept increasing significantly and reached 209 in 1996 elections. The figure included 8 national parties and 30 regional parties. The rest were 'registered but not recognised'.

Elections were held in 1998 after the government elected in 1996 collapsed and the 12th Lok Sabha was convened. A total of 69 political parties contested the 1999 polls, while 76 had contested in 1998.
The number again increased in 2004 Lok Sabha elections, which saw participation from 215 parties.
The number increased significantly in 2009 where 363 parties participated. Out of 363, seven were national parties, 34 were regional, and 322 fell in the category of 'registered but not recognised'.