India is the largest democracy in the world and the government of this democracy is decided every 5 years with the Lok Sabha General elections. The year 2014 was one such a year and not just us, but the whole world waited with bated breath for the outcome. The 35 day long process had many facts that you probably did not know of:
1. Total number of polling stations for 2014 General Elections were 9,19,452
2. Total number of EVMs used in the 2014 General Elections were – 17,20,080 control units and 18,78,306 ballot units (2014)
3. In Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, polling parties walk between 10kms and 46kms on foot to conduct polls (Election Commission Website)
4. Dr K Padmarajan fought his 159th Elections. (2014)
5. Largest parliamentary constituency in terms of number of Electors is Malkajgiri, Andhra Pradesh (29,53,915) and smallest is Lakshwadeep (47,972)
6. Shatrughan Sinha’s assets increased by Rs 116.73 Crore. He declared his assets worth Rs 131.74 crore in 2014 elections compared to Rs 15 crore in 2009 elections
7. 20,140 litres of Unique Violet Ink was dispatched by Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd (MVPL) for elections 2014
8. There are 6 national parties and all participated in Elections 2014. Out of 47 state parties 39 participated in the elections. Also, there are 1634 unrecognized parties out of which 419 participated in it
9. Total number of Candidates in 543 seats – 8251 (7578 male, 668 female and 5 transgender candidates). Among the elected candidates – 482 are male and 61 female
10. Of India’s 814.5 million eligible voters, 28,314 identify themselves as transgender and their gender is listed as “other”
11. From September last year Narender Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, addressed 437 big rallies, participated in a total 5827 public interfacing events and travelled over three lakh kilometres across 25 states
12. Rahul Gandhi logged nearly 165,000 km and addressed more than 250 rallies since September last year
13. In the 15th Lok Sabha, around 78 percent of the members have a graduate, post-graduate degree or a doctorate
In picture above is the ex-Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, who is a graduate in metallurgical engineering from IIT Bombay.
Moral of the story: not all our leaders are uneducated.
14. In the Indian general election, 2014, NOTA polled 1.1% of the votes, counting to over 6 million
India is the 12th country to use NOTA
15. Mahant Bharatdas Darshandas is the only voter at the polling station of Banej in Gir, which is the last home to the Asiatic lions
Amazing, isn’t it? For more amazing facts like these tune-in to Vital Stats of India every Friday, 9PM on HISTORY TV18
Storypick is the online partner for Vital Stats of India.