In his hometown in Punjab, the supporters carrying flags, banners and signs for Amritpal Singh’s campaign for Lok Sabha elections.
According to the latest vote counting trends from Tuesday, six Independent contenders are poised to win the 2024 Lok Sabha polls with jailed pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh, Kashmiri politician Engineer Rashid and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa leading.
Four independent candidates made it to the Lok Sabha during the 2019 general elections while three independents; two from Kerala and one from Assam managed to clinch victory in the general elections of 2014.
The highest number of winning independent candidates was seen in 1957 when they bagged 42 seats followed by 37 in 1952. They won 20 seats in the 1962 elections, other years were: 35 (in) 1967; 14 (1971); 12 (1989). The lowest count was observed in the year 1991 when only one out of a total of five thousand five hundred and fourteen independent candidates won. Check out Election Results 2024 LIVE updates
Based on latest Election Commission data as of 5 p.m., here are the six leading independents:
Mohmad Haneefa
His lead over his nearest rival Congress candidate is more than 28k votes for Mohmad Haneefa contesting from Ladakh Lok Sabha seat as an Independent. A former National Conference leader, Mohmad Haneefa quit with its entire Kargil unit after Congress fielded Tsering Namgyal as INDIA bloc candidate. He is also the solo contender from this Shia Muslim-dominated Kargil region.
This is going to be first major poll battle here since it became a Union Territory during reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir into two separate entities in August last year. BJP had won it also for two successive terms such that Congress has been most successful party there.
Engineer Rashid
The jailed Kashmiri leader is likely to win over Former Jammu and Kashmir CM and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who is in a triangular contest with separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Gani Lone in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. Although the result declaration by EC is still awaited, Mr Rashid appears to have widened his lead to over two lakh votes. The NC leader has also conceded defeat from the Lok Sabha seat.
Amritpal Singh
According to Election Commission trends, Amritpal Singh, the radical Sikh preacher leading with a margin of more than one lakh votes in Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib seat against congress nominee Kulbir Singh Zira. Presently lodged in Dibrugarh jail of Assam under National Security Act (NSA), Amritpal Singh heads ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit and contested as an independent candidate for these elections.
Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai
The outcome is yet to be confirmed but Independent Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai is ahead of BJP’s Lalubhai Babubhai Patel by 6k votes.
Vishal (Dada) Prakashbapu Patil
This Independent candidate who was trying for a party ticket from Sangli Lok Sabha constituency happens to be the grandson of ex-Maharashtra chief minister late Vasantdada Patil. His nearest competitor is Sanjay Patil from Bharatiya Janata Party.
Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa
As per EC trends, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa was leading in Faridkot against his nearest rival AAP’s Karamjit Singh Anmol by a margin of more than 40,000 votes. Mr. Khalsa is the son of one of the two assassins Indira Gandhi had
