2014 Indian general election

2014 Indian general election
Prime Minister's Office · GODL-India · source
Election name	2014 Indian general election
Country	India
Type	parliamentary
Previous election	2009 Indian general election
Next election	2019 Indian general election

2014 Indian general election was a significant event in the history of India, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Narendra Modi won a landslide victory, defeating the Indian National Congress (INC) led by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. The election was held from 7 April to 12 May 2014, with the results announced on 16 May 2014, and it saw the participation of various parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) led by Prakash Karat, and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by Mayawati. The election was also marked by the presence of other notable leaders, including Lalu Prasad Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP), and Jayalalithaa of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Background

The 2014 Indian general election was held in the backdrop of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, led by Manmohan Singh, facing various challenges, including corruption scandals, such as the 2G spectrum case and the Coalgate scandal, and economic slowdown. The BJP capitalized on these issues, with Narendra Modi emerging as a strong contender for the post of Prime Minister of India. The election also saw the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was formed in 2012 by Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare, and had won a significant number of seats in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election. Other parties, such as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) led by Mamata Banerjee, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by M. Karunanidhi, also played important roles in the election.

Parties and Candidates

The 2014 Indian general election saw the participation of various parties, including the BJP, INC, AAP, CPI(M), BSP, RJD, SP, AIADMK, TDP, AITC, and DMK. Notable candidates included Narendra Modi from the BJP, Rahul Gandhi from the INC, Arvind Kejriwal from the AAP, Lalu Prasad Yadav from the RJD, Mulayam Singh Yadav from the SP, and Jayalalithaa from the AIADMK. Other prominent leaders, such as Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Prakash Karat, Mayawati, and Chandrababu Naidu, also contested the election. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar, the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) led by Nitish Kumar, and the Shiv Sena (SS) led by Uddhav Thackeray were also part of the election.

Campaign

The campaign for the 2014 Indian general election was marked by intense rivalry between the BJP and the INC, with Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi engaging in a series of debates and public meetings. The AAP also ran a high-profile campaign, with Arvind Kejriwal targeting corruption and promising to bring about change. The BJP's campaign was supported by various allies, including the Shiv Sena (SS), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) led by Ram Vilas Paswan. The INC's campaign was supported by allies, such as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Other parties, such as the CPI(M), BSP, and AIADMK, also ran their own campaigns, with leaders like Prakash Karat, Mayawati, and Jayalalithaa addressing public meetings and rallies.

Opinion Polls

The opinion polls for the 2014 Indian general election predicted a victory for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with Narendra Modi emerging as the most preferred candidate for the post of Prime Minister of India. The polls, conducted by various agencies, including the CNN-IBN and The Hindu, showed the BJP leading in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Gujarat. The INC-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was predicted to suffer significant losses, with the AAP emerging as a potential third force in the election. Other parties, such as the CPI(M), BSP, and AIADMK, were also predicted to win seats in their respective states.

Results

The results of the 2014 Indian general election were announced on 16 May 2014, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning a landslide victory, securing 336 seats in the Lok Sabha. The BJP won 282 seats, while its allies, including the Shiv Sena (SS), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), won 54 seats. The INC-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won 59 seats, with the INC winning 44 seats. The AAP won 4 seats, while other parties, such as the CPI(M), BSP, and AIADMK, won seats in their respective states. Notable winners included Narendra Modi from the BJP, Rahul Gandhi from the INC, and Arvind Kejriwal from the AAP.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the 2014 Indian general election saw Narendra Modi being sworn in as the Prime Minister of India on 26 May 2014, with a cabinet that included ministers such as Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, and Sushma Swaraj. The BJP's victory was seen as a significant shift in the country's politics, with the party emerging as a dominant force in Indian politics. The INC's defeat was attributed to various factors, including corruption scandals and economic slowdown. The AAP's performance was seen as a positive sign for the party, with Arvind Kejriwal emerging as a potential leader in Indian politics. The election also saw the rise of various regional parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which won significant numbers of seats in their respective states. Category:Indian general elections