2014 Indian general election

The 2014 Indian general election, held from April 7 to May 12, 2014, was a pivotal democratic exercise to elect the 16th Lok Sabha, India's lower house of Parliament. This election marked a significant political shift as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, emerged victorious, securing 282 out of 543 seats, thus obtaining a clear majority. The elections were characterized by high voter turnout, exceeding 66%, reflecting the populace's engagement with the electoral process. The Congress party, which had been in power since 2004, suffered substantial losses, winning only 44 seats. The election was noted for its extensive use of social media and campaign innovations, reshaping how political communication occurred in India.