2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election
The 2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election was held on 15 October 2014 to elect all 288 members of the state's Legislative Assembly. After a 63.38% turnout in the election as hung verdict has occurred with Bharatiya Janata Party and Shivsena emerged as largest and second largest parties.
Timeline
The term of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra was due to expire on 8 November 2014. By virtue of its powers, duties and functions under Article 324 read with Article 172 of the Constitution of India and Section 15 of Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission of India is required to hold elections to constitute the new Legislative Assembly in the State of Maharashtra during a window of time which is: between six months before and six months after the date of expiry. Elections are almost invariably held before the expiry of the term, rather than afterwards.The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect the day that the election commission announces the schedule of elections. This happened on 12 September 2014. The required Gazette Notification was issued on 20 September 2014. The legislative assembly election was held on 15 October 2014, in a single phase, to select the 288 members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in India. The result was announced on 19 October, with the BJP getting a plurality. The term of the current 13th Legislative Assembly is to end on November 9, 2019, as the first meeting of the new house was held on November 10, 2014.
Background
After the landslide victory of BJP in 2014 Indian general election under the leadership of Narendra Modi, BJP won majority seats in the state and formed government with Shivsena by reviving there grand old alliance.Congress-NCP alliance was not able to attain majority due to decreasing popularity of UPA government.
Alliances
Following the NCP-INC alliance's performance in the 2014 Indian general election, the NCP demanded 144 seats to contest and a rotation of the Chief Minister's post between parties. Both parties held negotiations but failed to reach a conclusion. The INC declared its list of candidates for 118 seats on 25 September without consulting the NCP. Thus, the NCP unilaterally severed its 15-year-old alliance with the INC. The INC later reached out to the Samajwadi Party to form an alliance.The Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janta Party were alliance partners for 25-years - including several smaller parties, such as Republican Party of India, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, were also a part. After the general election, the BJP demanded additional seats to contest; initially they requested 144 seats but later reduced their demand to 130 seats. The Shiv Sena offered 119 seats to the BJP and 18 seats to four other allies, keeping 151 to contest itself. After several rounds of negotiations, the parties did not reach a conclusion. Thus the Shiv Sena - BJP alliance ended on the 25 September after 25 years.
Parties
- National Democratic Alliance
- *Bharatiya Janata Party
- *Republican Party of India (Athavale)
- *Swabhimani Paksha
- *Rashtriya Samaj Paksha
- *Shiv Sangram
- Shiv Sena
- Indian National Congress
- Nationalist Congress Party
- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
- Peasants and Workers Party of India
- Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi
- Samajwadi Party
- Bahujan Mukti Party
- Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh
- Bahujan Samaj Party
- All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
- Communist Party of India (Marxist)
- Jan Surajya Shakti
- Republican Sena
Campaign
Indian National Congress
The incumbent Indian National Congress started its campaign on 1 September at Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai. Prithviraj Chavan, the incumbent Chief Minister led the campaign with Narayan Rane heading the Campaign Committee. The party's advertising campaign began on 20 September.Nationalist Congress Party
The Nationalist Congress Party began its campaign in Kolhapur on 16 September with national party President Sharad Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra party President Sunil Tatkare and MP from Kolhapur Dhananjay Mahadik attending the rally.Bharatiya Janata Party
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in South Mumbai's Mahalaxmi Racecourse after his return from the U.S. for the sixty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly.Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena started its campaign at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai on 27 September, where party leader Uddhav Thackeray addressed its supporters.Election
A total of 3255 candidates contested the election.voter turnout was 64%. Voter-verified paper audit trail along with EVMs was used in 13 constituencies: Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Ahmednagar.List of Political Parties participated in 2014 Maharashtra Assembly Elections.