Phata poster, nikla zero: The 9 hapless parties

Over 1,650 political parties including big names like Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and National Conference drew a blank in the Lok Sabha elections that saw BJP storming to power at the Centre with a landslide victory.

Currently, there are 1,687 registered political parties in the country.

Out of more than 8,200 candidates, who were in the fray, as many as 5,007 candidates were fielded by various parties and remaining were independents.

Out of these, 541 candidates have secured a place in the Lower House riding on tickets from 35 different political parties, while three contestants have won as independents.

Let’s take a look at the parties that failed to open their accounts.

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Complete Coverage: Lok Sabha Election 2014

Bahujan Samaj Party

Party chief: Mayawati

Seat Position in 2009: 21

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Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Party chief: Karunanidhi

Seat Position in 2009: 18

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National Conference

Party chief: Farooq Abdullah

Seat Position in 2009: 3

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All India Forward Bloc

Party General Secretary: Debabrata Biswas

Seat Position in 2009: 2

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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena

Party chief: Raj Thackeray

Seat Position in 2009: 0

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Rashtriya Lok Dal

Party chief: Ajit Singh

Seat Position in 2009: 5

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Asom Gana Parishad

Party chief: Prafulla Kumar Mahanta

Seat Position in 2009: 1

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Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Party chief: Vaiko

Seat Position in 2009: 1

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Haryana Janhit Congress

Party chief: Kuldeep Bishnoi

Seat Position in 2009: 1

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In the 16th Lok Sabha elections, the number of registered political parties has grown to a record number of 1,687. The sharp surge can be attributed to emergence and the success of AAP in the Delhi assembly elections.

Interestingly, many of them had made unusual promises like helping lovers to get married and ending ministerial system.

According to latest Election Commission data, there are six national political parties and 54 state parties in addition to 1,627 unrecognised parties.

Interestingly, around 60 lakh voters opted for the 'None of The Above' option, more than the votes secured by 21 parties, in this Lok Sabha polls where it was introduced for the first time in any parliamentary election.