ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the electoral dynamics of the 2014 general election in Odisha specifically addressing the question: why did the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite nationwide Modi wave, not fare well in Odisha and get only one seat? The voting pattern in the 2014 election in Odisha followed the national trend of anti-congressism but deviated from the national pattern of voting pro-BJP. A unique feature of Odisha's verdict in the 2014 Lok Sabha election is that it deviated from the national trend and voted overwhelmingly for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) instead of the BJP. The 'Modi wave', which helped the BJP to increase its vote share in the 2014 election, could not help it in winning more number of Lok Sabha and assembly seats. The division of the anti-BJD votes among the opposition parties helped the BJD register a clean sweep in both the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state.
