2014: The Election that Changed India is based on Rajdeep Sardesai’s observations as a columnist, editor and an award winning anchor. The skills of both interrogative journalism and writer’s dexterity are demonstrated with riveting coherence. The story-like writing style makes the reading popular. The chronology of events building up the eventual shape of the 2014 verdict and the key players in big stories is ably expressed. Sardesai has maintained a balanced and critical approach while talking about the gaps in the democratic system.
The sixteenth Lok Sabha general elections of 2014 in India were held to elect the members of all 543 parliamentary constituencies. These were to run in nine phases, with 814.5 million people participating as eligible voters. These were the largest ever elections held in the world. The election turnout, according to the Election Commission of India, was 66.38% and was the highest ever in the history of India. The National Democratic Alliance won 336 seats, out of which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alone had won 282, enabling it, for the first time since 1984 Indian general elections, to govern without a coalition. Indian National Congress, leading the United Progressive Alliance, won 58 seats only and conceded its worst ever defeat in any general election.
