April to June Elections

The 2004 general elections refer to the parliamentary elections held in India in April-May 2004. These elections were significant as they marked the 14th Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Parliament) elections and resulted in a surprise outcome.

Here are some key highlights of the 2004 general elections in India:

1. 
   

   Outcome: The Indian National Congress (INC), led by Sonia Gandhi, unexpectedly emerged as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 145 seats out of 543. This result was surprising to many analysts and political observers, as the INC had faced setbacks in previous elections.

   
   


2. 
   

   Coalition Politics: Despite the INC's victory, it did not win an outright majority in the Lok Sabha. As a result, coalition politics became crucial in forming the government. The INC formed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), a coalition of several regional and left-leaning parties, to garner support and secure a majority in the Lok Sabha.

   
   


3. 
   

   NDA Defeat: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suffered a defeat in the elections. The NDA had been in power since 1998 under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, it failed to retain power despite the "India Shining" campaign, which focused on the country's economic growth and development.

   
   


4. 
   

   Sonia Gandhi's Decision: Following the election results, Sonia Gandhi was expected to become the Prime Minister of India. However, she declined the position, citing concerns about her foreign origin and the potential controversy it could generate. Instead, she nominated Manmohan Singh, an economist and senior leader of the INC, as the Prime Ministerial candidate.

   
   


5. 
   

   Formation of the UPA Government: The UPA, under the leadership of Manmohan Singh, formed the government with support from various coalition partners, including the Left Front. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India, leading the UPA government for two consecutive terms until 2014.

   
   

Overall, the 2004 general elections in India were significant for witnessing a change in government and the rise of coalition politics, with the INC leading a diverse alliance to form the government at the center.