General Elections 2014 has seen the lowest ever number of Independent candidates getting elected. Out of a total of 8251 contestants, 3234 were Independent candidates; out of this, 3 candidates have been elected. In the previous General Elections held in 2009, the total number of Independent candidates was 3831 out of which 9 were elected. The highest ever number of Independents elected is 42 (Second General Elections, 1957); the number of Independent candidates contested was highest at 10635 in 11th General Elections, held in 1996.