Editing 2004 Indian general election

{{short description|General election in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2004 Indian general election
| country = India
| type = parliamentary
| previous_election = 1999 Indian general election
| previous_year = 1999
| next_election = 2009 Indian general election
| next_year = 2009
| election_date = {{nowrap|20 April, 26 April, 5 and 10 May 2004}}
| seats_for_election = 543 of the 545 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]
| majority_seats = 272
| turnout = 58.07% ({{decrease}}1.92%)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eci.nic.in/archive/GE2004/pollupd/pc/GE_NatSnapshot.htm |title = General Elections 2004 - National Summary  |access-date=16 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727220231/http://eci.nic.in/archive/GE2004/pollupd/pc/GE_NatSnapshot.htm |archive-date=27 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| image_size = 150x150px

| image1 = Sonia_Gandhi_(cropped).jpg
| leader1 = [[Sonia Gandhi]]
| party1 = Indian National Congress
| leader_since1 = 19 March 1998
| leaders_seat1 = [[Rae Bareli (Lok Sabha constituency)|Rae Bareli]]
| alliance1 = United Progressive Alliance
| last_election1 = 28.30%, 114 seats
| seats1 = '''145'''
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 31
| popular_vote1 = '''103,408,949'''
| percentage1 = '''26.53%'''
| swing1 = {{decrease}} 1.77pp

| image2 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee.jpg
| leader2 = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| party2 = Bharatiya Janata Party
| leader_since2 = 16 May 1996
| leaders_seat2 = [[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)|Lucknow]]
| alliance2 = National Democratic Alliance
| last_election2 = 23.75%, 182 seats
| seats2 = 138
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 44
| popular_vote2 = 86,371,561
| percentage2 = 22.16%
| swing2 = {{decrease}} 1.59pp

| map_image = [[File:Wahlergebnisse Indien 2004.svg|300px|lang=en]]
| title = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]]
| posttitle = Prime Minister after election
| before_election = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| before_party = Bharatiya Janata Party
| after_election = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| after_party = Indian National Congress
}}
[[File:2004 Indian general election schedule.jpg|Polling dates|thumb]]
'''General elections''' were held in [[India]] in four phases between 20 April and 10 May 2004. Over 670 million people were eligible to vote, electing 543 members of the [[14th Lok Sabha]]. Seven states also held assembly elections to elect [[States and union territories of India|state]] governments.

On 13 May the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP), the lead party of the [[National Democratic Alliance]] conceded defeat. The [[Indian National Congress]], which had governed India for all but five years from independence until 1996, returned to power after a record eight years out of office.  It was able to put together a comfortable majority of more than 335 members out of 543 with the help of its allies. The 335 members included both the Congress-led [[United Progressive Alliance]], the governing coalition formed after the election, as well as external support from the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (BSP), [[Samajwadi Party]] (SP), [[Kerala Congress]] (KC) and the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]].

After facing criticism from her own party and from the country [[Congress President]] [[Sonia Gandhi]] asked the 22nd [[Finance Minister of India|Finance Minister]] [[Manmohan Singh]], an economist, to head the new government. Singh had previously served in the Congress government of Prime Minister [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] in the early 1990s, when he was seen as one of the architects of [[Economic liberalisation in India|India's first economic liberalisation]] plan, which staved off an impending monetary crisis. Despite the fact that Singh had never won a Lok Sabha seat, his considerable goodwill and Sonia Gandhi's nomination won him the support of the UPA allies and the Left Front.

The elections saw the evolution of a [[Two-party system]] with political competition primarily concentrated between the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] and [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]].

==Background==
[[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] had recommended premature dissolution of the [[13th Lok Sabha]] (in accordance with a provision of the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]]) to pave the way for early elections apparently in view of the recent good showing of the BJP in the Assembly elections in four states.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

==Organisation==
The election dates for the parliamentary elections were:
*20 April – 141 constituencies
*26 April – 137 constituencies
*5 May – 83 constituencies
*10 May – 182 constituencies

Counting began simultaneously on 13 May. Over 370 million of the 675 million eligible citizens voted, with election violence claiming 48 lives, less than half the number killed during the 1999 election. The Indian elections were held in phases in order to maintain law and order. A few states considered sensitive areas required deployment of the armed forces. The average enrolment of voters in each constituency is 1.2 million, although the largest constituency has 3.1 million.

The [[Election Commission of India]] is responsible for deciding the dates and conducting elections according to constitutional provisions. The Election Commission employed more than a million [[electronic voting]] machines for these elections.

According to the magazine ''[[India Today]]'', 115.62 billion rupees (approx US$2.6 billion) were expected to have been spent in campaigning for the elections by [[List of political parties in India|all political parties]] combined. Most of the money was spent on the people involved in the election. The [[Election Commission of India|Election Commission]] limited poll expenses to Rs. 2.5 million ($57,000 approx.) per [[constituency]]. Thus, the actual spending is expected to have been approximately 10 times the limit. About 6.5 billion rupees (approx. $150 million) are estimated to have been spent on mobilising 150,000 vehicles. About a billion rupees are estimated to have been spent on helicopters and aircraft.

==Pre-poll alliances==
In these elections, compared to all the Lok Sabha elections of the 1990s, the battle was more of a head-to-head contest in the sense that there was no viable third front alternative. Largely the contest was between BJP and its allies on one hand and Congress and its allies on the other. The situation did, however, show large regional differences.

The BJP fought the elections as part of the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), although some of its seat-sharing agreements were made with strong regional parties outside of the NDA such as [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) in [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) in [[Tamil Nadu]].

Ahead of the elections there were attempts to form a Congress-led national level joint opposition front. In the end, an agreement could not be reached, but on regional level alliances between Congress and regional parties were made in several states. This was the first time that Congress contested with that type of alliances in a parliamentary election.

The left parties, most notably the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and the [[Communist Party of India]], contested on their own in their strongholds [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]] and [[Kerala]], confronting both Congress and NDA forces. In several other states, such as [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]], they took part in seat sharings with Congress. In [[Tamil Nadu]] they were part of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK)-led [[Democratic Progressive Alliance]].

Two parties refused to go along with either Congress or BJP, [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] and [[Samajwadi Party]]. Both are based in [[Uttar Pradesh]], the largest state of India (in terms of population). Congress made several attempts to form alliances with them, but in vain. Many believed that they would become the 'spoilers' that would rob Congress of an electoral victory. The result was a four-cornered contest in UP, which didn't really hurt or benefit Congress or BJP significantly.

==Forecast and campaigns==
Most analysts believed the NDA would win the elections. This assessment was also supported by opinion polls. The economy had shown steady growth in the last few months and the [[Privatization in India|disinvestment]] of government owned production units (a continuation of India's liberalisation policies initiated in the early 1990s) had been on track. The Foreign Exchange Reserves of India stood at more than US$100 billion (7th largest in the world and a record for India). The service sector had also generated a lot of jobs. The party was supposed to have been riding on a wave of the so-called "feel good factor", typified by its promotional campaign "[[India Shining]]".

In the past, BJP has largely been seen as a hard-line [[Hindu]] party with close ties with the Hindu organisation the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS). Over the years, the party has slightly distanced itself from its ''[[Hindutva]]'' policies, a change that is being questioned after the party's poor showing in the elections. These elections were marked by the campaign's emphasis on economic gains. From the last few elections, BJP had realised that its voter base had reached a ceiling and had concentrated on pre-poll rather than post-poll alliances. The foreign origin of [[Sonia Gandhi]] also constituted part of the NDA's campaign.

==Results==
{{Election results
|image=[[File:Lok Sabha Zusammensetzung 2004.svg|350px]]
|party1=[[Indian National Congress]]|votes1=103408949|seats1=145|sc1=
|party2=[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]|votes2=86371561|seats2=138|sc2=
|party3=[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]|votes3=22070614|seats3=43|sc3=
|party4=[[Bahujan Samaj Party]]|votes4=20765229|seats4=19|sc4=
|party5=[[Samajwadi Party]]|votes5=16824072|seats5=36|sc5=
|party6=[[Telugu Desam Party]]|votes6=11844811|seats6=5|sc6=
|party7=[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]|votes7=9384147|seats7=24|sc7=
|party8=[[Janata Dal (United)]]|votes8=9144963|seats8=8|sc8=
|party9=[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]|votes9=8547014|seats9=0|sc9=
|party10=[[All India Trinamool Congress]]|votes10=8071867|seats10=2|sc10=
|party11=[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]|votes11=7064393|seats11=16|sc11=
|party12=[[Shiv Sena]]|votes12=7056255|seats12=12|sc12=
|party13=[[Nationalist Congress Party]]|votes13=7023175|seats13=9|sc13=
|party14=[[Janata Dal (Secular)]]|votes14=5732296|seats14=3|sc14=
|party15=[[Communist Party of India]]|votes15=5484111|seats15=10|sc15=
|party16=[[Biju Janata Dal]]|votes16=5082849|seats16=11|sc16=
|party17=[[Shiromani Akali Dal]]|votes17=3506681|seats17=8|sc17=
|party18=[[Lok Janshakti Party]]|votes18=2771427|seats18=4|sc18=
|party19=[[Rashtriya Lok Dal]]|votes19=2463607|seats19=3|sc19=
|party20=[[Telangana Rashtra Samithi]]|votes20=2441405|seats20=5|sc20=
|party21=[[Pattali Makkal Katchi]]|votes21=2169020|seats21=6|sc21=
|party22=[[Asom Gana Parishad]]|votes22=2069600|seats22=2|sc22=
|party23=[[Indian National Lok Dal]]|votes23=1936703|seats23=0|sc23=
|party24=[[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]]|votes24=1846843|seats24=5|sc24=
|party25=[[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]]|votes25=1689794|seats25=3|sc25=
|party26=[[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]|votes26=1679870|seats26=4|sc26=
|party27=[[All India Forward Bloc]]|votes27=1365055|seats27=3|sc27=
|party28=[[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation]]|votes28=1281688|seats28=0|sc28=
|party29=[[Apna Dal]]|votes29=844053|seats29=0|sc29=
|party30=[[Indian Union Muslim League|Muslim League Kerala State Committee]]|votes30=770098|seats30=1|sc30=
|party31=[[Gondwana Ganatantra Party]]|votes31=720189|seats31=0|sc31=
|party32=[[Naga People's Front]]|votes32=715366|seats32=1|sc32=
|party33=[[Janata Party]]|votes33=517683|seats33=0|sc33=
|party34=[[Haryana Vikas Party]]|votes34=506122|seats34=0|sc34=
|party35=[[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference]]|votes35=493067|seats35=2|sc35=
|party36=[[Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh]]|votes36=428566|seats36=0|sc36=
|party37=[[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]]|votes37=417248|seats37=1|sc37=
|party38=[[Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)|Shiromani Akali Dal (Simranjit Singh Mann)]]|votes38=387682|seats38=0|sc38=
|party39=[[Republican Party of India (Athawale)]]|votes39=367510|seats39=1|sc39=
|party40=[[National Loktantrik Party]]|votes40=367049|seats40=1|sc40=
|party41=[[Kerala Congress]]|votes41=353905|seats41=1|sc41=
|party42=[[Kannada Nadu Party]]|votes42=349183|seats42=0|sc42=
|party43=[[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)]]|votes43=337386|seats43=1|sc43=
|party44=[[Peasants and Workers Party of India]]|votes44=319572|seats44=0|sc44=
|party45=[[Republican Party of India]]|votes45=295545|seats45=0|sc45=
|party46=[[Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party]]|votes46=275267|seats46=0|sc46=
|party47=[[Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party]]|votes47=267457|seats47=1|sc47=
|party48=[[Peoples Republican Party]]|votes48=261219|seats48=0|sc48=
|party49=[[Indian Federal Democratic Party]]|votes49=256411|seats49=1|sc49=
|party50=[[Kerala Congress (M)]]|votes50=209880|seats50=0|sc50=
|party51=[[Rashtriya Samanta Dal]]|votes51=209694|seats51=0|sc51=
|party52=[[Samta Party]]|votes52=201276|seats52=0|sc52=
|party53=[[Lok Bhalai Party]]|votes53=187787|seats53=0|sc53=
|party54=[[Mizo National Front]]|votes54=182864|seats54=1|sc54=
|party55=[[Bharatiya Navshakti Party]]|votes55=171080|seats55=1|sc55=
|party56=[[All Jharkhand Students Union]]|votes56=157930|seats56=0|sc56=
|party57=[[Sikkim Democratic Front]]|votes57=153409|seats57=1|sc57=
|party58=[[Marxist Co-ordination Committee]]|votes58=147470|seats58=0|sc58=
|party59=[[Rashtriya Samaj Paksha]]|votes59=146571|seats59=0|sc59=
|party60=[[Rashtriya Parivartan Dal]]|votes60=139145|seats60=0|sc60=
|party61=[[Jharkhand Disom Party]]|votes61=135685|seats61=0|sc61=
|party62=Pyramid Party of India|votes62=130362|seats62=0|sc62=
|party63=[[Ekta Shakti]]|votes63=126924|seats63=0|sc63=
|party64=[[Autonomous State Demand Committee]]|votes64=101808|seats64=0|sc64=
|party65=[[Akhil Bharatiya Sena]]|votes65=92210|seats65=0|sc65=
|party66=[[Hindu Mahasabha]]|votes66=88214|seats66=0|sc66=
|party67=[[Federal Party of Manipur]]|votes67=88179|seats67=0|sc67=
|party68=[[Bihar People's Party]]|votes68=86418|seats68=0|sc68=
|party69=[[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|Party of Democratic Socialism]]|votes69=81999|seats69=0|sc69=
|party70=[[Samata Samaj Party]]|votes70=78791|seats70=0|sc70=
|party71=Mahabharat People's Party|votes71=77055|seats71=0|sc71=
|party72=[[Arunachal Congress]]|votes72=76527|seats72=0|sc72=
|party73=[[Jharkhand Party]]|votes73=74364|seats73=0|sc73=
|party74=[[Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party]]|votes74=70078|seats74=0|sc74=
|party75=[[Indian Justice Party]]|votes75=67914|seats75=0|sc75=
|party76=Jharkhand Party (Naren)|votes76=67782|seats76=0|sc76=
|party77=[[United Minorities Front, Assam]]|votes77=64657|seats77=0|sc77=
|party78=Labour Party (Secular)|votes78=63989|seats78=0|sc78=
|party79=[[Rashtriya Swabhimaan Party]]|votes79=58296|seats79=0|sc79=
|party80=[[Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party]]|votes80=54746|seats80=0|sc80=
|party81=[[Lok Rajya Party]]|votes81=54097|seats81=0|sc81=
|party82=Bahujan Kisan Dal|votes82=52669|seats82=0|sc82=
|party83=[[Majlis Bachao Tahreek]]|votes83=47560|seats83=0|sc83=
|party84=[[Peoples Democratic Party (India)|Peoples Democratic Party]]|votes84=45720|seats84=0|sc84=
|party85=[[Uttarakhand Kranti Dal]]|votes85=43899|seats85=0|sc85=
|party86=[[Marxist Communist Party of India (S.S. Srivastava)]]|votes86=38766|seats86=0|sc86=
|party87=[[Amra Bangali]]|votes87=38107|seats87=0|sc87=
|party88=Vidharbha Rajya Party|votes88=36974|seats88=0|sc88=
|party89=[[Urs Samyuktha Paksha]]|votes89=33128|seats89=0|sc89=
|party90=Ambedkarist Republican Party|votes90=31467|seats90=0|sc90=
|party91=Prabuddha Republican Party|votes91=29792|seats91=0|sc91=
|party92=[[Rashtravadi Communist Party]]|votes92=28757|seats92=0|sc92=
|party93=Rashtriya Samajik Nayak Paksha|votes93=27594|seats93=0|sc93=
|party94=[[Sampurna Vikas Dal]]|votes94=27135|seats94=0|sc94=
|party95=Tamil Desiyak Katchi|votes95=25348|seats95=0|sc95=
|party96=Kosi Vikas Party|votes96=25258|seats96=0|sc96=
|party97=Chhattisgarhi Samaj Party|votes97=24696|seats97=0|sc97=
|party98=[[Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Party]]|votes98=24176|seats98=0|sc98=
|party99=[[Loktantrik Samajwadi Party]]|votes99=22811|seats99=0|sc99=
|party100=Savarn Samaj Party|votes100=21246|seats100=0|sc100=
|party101=[[Ambedkar Samaj Party]]|votes101=20767|seats101=0|sc101=
|party102=[[Indian National League]]|votes102=20159|seats102=0|sc102=
|party103=Bharatiya Gaon Taj Dal|votes103=19909|seats103=0|sc103=
|party104=Akhil Bharatiya Congress Dal (Ambedkar)|votes104=19548|seats104=0|sc104=
|party105=Socialist Party (Lohia)|votes105=18628|seats105=0|sc105=
|party106=Shivrajya Party|votes106=18374|seats106=0|sc106=
|party107=[[Samajwadi Jan Parishad]]|votes107=17717|seats107=0|sc107=
|party108=[[Hindustan Janata Party]]|votes108=17410|seats108=0|sc108=
|party109=[[Revolutionary Communist Party of India|Revolutionary Communist Party of India (Rasik Bhatt)]]|votes109=16691|seats109=0|sc109=
|party110=Bharatiya Republican Paksha|votes110=16546|seats110=0|sc110=
|party111=Rashtriya Vikas Party|votes111=15159|seats111=0|sc111=
|party112=[[Trinamool Gana Parishad]]|votes112=14933|seats112=0|sc112=
|party113=Manuvadi Party|votes113=14233|seats113=0|sc113=
|party114=Bharat Kranti Rakshak Party|votes114=12547|seats114=0|sc114=
|party115=Rashtriya Hamara Dal|votes115=12346|seats115=0|sc115=
|party116=Parivartan Samaj Party|votes116=12273|seats116=0|sc116=
|party117=Bharatiya Eklavya Party|votes117=12197|seats117=0|sc117=
|party119=Proutist Sarva Samaj Party|votes119=11561|seats119=0|sc119=
|party120=[[Bharatiya Rashtravadi Paksha]]|votes120=11459|seats120=0|sc120=
|party121=Pachim Banga Rajya Muslim League|votes121=10446|seats121=0|sc121=
|party122=Rajasthan Vikash Party|votes122=10032|seats122=0|sc122=
|party123=Lokpriya Samaj Party|votes123=9913|seats123=0|sc123=
|party124=[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]|votes124=9707|seats124=0|sc124=
|party125=Rashtriya Krantikari Samajwadi Party|votes125=9145|seats125=0|sc125=
|party126=[[Vidarbha Janata Congress]]|votes126=9097|seats126=0|sc126=
|party127=Shoshit Samaj Dal|votes127=8862|seats127=0|sc127=
|party128=Jai Hind Party|votes128=8645|seats128=0|sc128=
|party129=[[Bharatiya Minorities Suraksha Mahasangh]]|votes129=8200|seats129=0|sc129=
|party130=Akhil Bharatiya Desh Bhakt Morcha|votes130=7696|seats130=0|sc130=
|party131=[[Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party]]|votes131=7584|seats131=0|sc131=
|party132=Rashtriya Sawarn Dal|votes132=7374|seats132=0|sc132=
|party133=Navbharat Nirman Party|votes133=7169|seats133=0|sc133=
|party134=[[Krantikari Samyavadi Party]]|votes134=6948|seats134=0|sc134=
|party135=[[Democratic Bharatiya Samaj Party]]|votes135=6717|seats135=0|sc135=
|party136=Youth and Students Party|votes136=6580|seats136=0|sc136=
|party137=[[Ephraim Union]]|votes137=6512|seats137=0|sc137=
|party138=Akhil Bharatiya Lok Tantrik Alp-Sankhyak Jan Morcha|votes138=6003|seats138=0|sc138=
|party139=[[United Goans Democratic Party]]|votes139=5881|seats139=0|sc139=
|party140=Pichhra Samaj Party|votes140=5672|seats140=0|sc140=
|party141=[[All India Momin Conference]]|votes141=5113|seats141=0|sc141=
|party142=Labour Party of India (V.V. Prasad)|votes142=4977|seats142=0|sc142=
|party143=[[All India Minorities Front]]|votes143=4874|seats143=0|sc143=
|party144=[[Republican Party of India (Khobragade)]]|votes144=4790|seats144=0|sc144=
|party145=Naari Shakti Party|votes145=4649|seats145=0|sc145=
|party146=Bahujan Vikas Party|votes146=4533|seats146=0|sc146=
|party147=Bharatiya Ekta Dal|votes147=4312|seats147=0|sc147=
|party148=Shikshit Berozgar Sena|votes148=4303|seats148=0|sc148=
|party149=Yuva Gantantra Party|votes149=4140|seats149=0|sc149=
|party150=[[Rashtravadi Janata Party]]|votes150=3737|seats150=0|sc150=
|party151=Kranti Kari Jai Hind Sena|votes151=3393|seats151=0|sc151=
|party152=Mudiraj Rashtriya Samithi|votes152=3345|seats152=0|sc152=
|party153=[[Sikkim Sangram Parishad]]|votes153=3216|seats153=0|sc153=
|party154=Janata Vikas Party|votes154=3173|seats154=0|sc154=
|party155=National Students Party|votes155=3069|seats155=0|sc155=
|party156=Secular Party of India|votes156=3041|seats156=0|sc156=
|party157=Vikas Party|votes157=2998|seats157=0|sc157=
|party158=Social Action Party|votes158=2987|seats158=0|sc158=
|party159=Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Azad Hind Party|votes159=2801|seats159=0|sc159=
|party160=Loktantrik Chetna Party|votes160=2776|seats160=0|sc160=
|party161=[[Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad]]|votes161=2765|seats161=0|sc161=
|party162=Janmangal Paksh|votes162=2684|seats162=0|sc162=
|party163=Sanatan Samaj Party|votes163=2679|seats163=0|sc163=
|party164=Lok Sewa Dal|votes164=2646|seats164=0|sc164=
|party165=[[Jana Unnayan Mancha]]|votes165=2592|seats165=0|sc165=
|party166=Rashtriya Lok Seva Morcha|votes166=2476|seats166=0|sc166=
|party167=[[Republican Party of India (Democratic)]]|votes167=2370|seats167=0|sc167=
|party168=Bhartiya Lok Kalyan Dal|votes168=2242|seats168=0|sc168=
|party169=Panchayat Raj Party|votes169=2165|seats169=0|sc169=
|party170=Bharatiya Backward Party|votes170=2162|seats170=0|sc170=
|party171=[[All Kerala M.G.R. Dravida Munnetra Party]]|votes171=2158|seats171=0|sc171=
|party172=Akhil Bhartiya Rajarya Sabha|votes172=2080|seats172=0|sc172=
|party173=Bharat Ki Lok Jimmedar Party|votes173=2055|seats173=0|sc173=
|party174=Rashtriya Garima Party|votes174=2043|seats174=0|sc174=
|party175=Rashtriya Garib Dal|votes175=1977|seats175=0|sc175=
|party176=Ekta Krandi Dal U.P.|votes176=1939|seats176=0|sc176=
|party177=Bharatiya Labour Party|votes177=1758|seats177=0|sc177=
|party178=Phule Bharti Lok Party|votes178=1690|seats178=0|sc178=
|party179=Bharatiya Prajatantrik Shudh Gandhiwadi Krishak Dal|votes179=1689|seats179=0|sc179=
|party180=Mool Bharati (S) Party|votes180=1675|seats180=0|sc180=
|party181=Bharatiya Nagrik Party|votes181=1580|seats181=0|sc181=
|party182=[[Jammu and Kashmir Awami League]]|votes182=1519|seats182=0|sc182=
|party183=Hind Morcha|votes183=1459|seats183=0|sc183=
|party184=[[Jharkhand People's Party]]|votes184=1449|seats184=0|sc184=
|party185=Maharashtra Rajiv Congress|votes185=1399|seats185=0|sc185=
|party186=[[Janhit Samaj Party]]|votes186=1310|seats186=0|sc186=
|party187=Vijeta Party|votes187=1304|seats187=0|sc187=
|party188=Socialistic Democratic Party|votes188=1265|seats188=0|sc188=
|party189=Jansatta Party|votes189=1189|seats189=0|sc189=
|party190=Federal Congress of India|votes190=1037|seats190=0|sc190=
|party191=Nidaya Malik (N) Party|votes191=1030|seats191=0|sc191=
|party192=Indian Bahujan Samajwadi Party|votes192=972|seats192=0|sc192=
|party193=Desh Bhakt Party|votes193=912|seats193=0|sc193=
|party194=[[Ambedkar National Congress]]|votes194=825|seats194=0|sc194=
|party195=[[NTR Telugu Desam Party (Lakshmi Parvathi)]]|votes195=759|seats195=0|sc195=
|party196=Akhil Bhartiya Loktantra Party|votes196=754|seats196=0|sc196=
|party197=[[Jebamani Janata]]|votes197=734|seats197=0|sc197=
|party198=Niswarth Sewa Party|votes198=730|seats198=0|sc198=
|party199=Jan Chetna Party|votes199=671|seats199=0|sc199=
|party200=Hindu Ekta Andolan Party|votes200=620|seats200=0|sc200=
|party201=[[Krantikari Manuwadi Morcha]]|votes201=597|seats201=0|sc201=
|party202=Bharatiya Prajatantra Party|votes202=573|seats202=0|sc202=
|party203=Bharatiya Muhabbat Party (All India)|votes203=566|seats203=0|sc203=
|party204=Manav Jagriti Manch|votes204=552|seats204=0|sc204=
|party205=Bharatiya Janvadi Party|votes205=543|seats205=0|sc205=
|party206=Bharatiya Surajya Manch|votes206=515|seats206=0|sc206=
|party207=Rashtriya Janadhikar Party|votes207=487|seats207=0|sc207=
|party208=Praja Party|votes208=485|seats208=0|sc208=
|party209=Bharti Sarvadarshi Parishad|votes209=427|seats209=0|sc209=
|party210=Shoshit Samaj Party|votes210=395|seats210=0|sc210=
|party211=Rashtriya Sakar Party|votes211=379|seats211=0|sc211=
|party212=Bharatiya Sarvkalyan Krantidal|votes212=365|seats212=0|sc212=
|party213=Awami Party|votes213=327|seats213=0|sc213=
|party214=Swaraj Dal|votes214=298|seats214=0|sc214=
|party215=Akhand Bharti|votes215=138|seats215=0|sc215=
|party216=Parmarth Party|votes216=126|seats216=0|sc216=
|party217=Independents|votes217=16549900|seats217=5|sc217=
|row218=Nominated [[Anglo-Indians]]|seats218=2
|invalid=168546
|electorate=671487930
|source=[https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4126-general-election-2004-vol-i-ii-iii/ ECI]
}}

===Region-wise results===
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:right
!Region
!Total seats
! colspan="2" |[[Indian National Congress]]
! colspan="2" |[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
! colspan="2" |Others
|-
|align=left|South India
|131
|48
|{{Increase}} 14
|18
|{{Decrease}} 1
|'''65'''
|{{Decrease}} 13
|-
|align=left|West India
|78
|27
|{{Increase}} 10
|'''28'''
|{{Decrease}} 7
|23
|{{Decrease}} 3
|-
|align=left|Hindi-Heartland
|225
|46
|{{Increase}} 12
|78
|{{Decrease}} 34
|'''101'''
|{{Increase}} 22
|-
|align=left|North-East India
|25
|11
|{{Decrease}} 3
|4
|{{Increase}} 2
|'''13'''
|{{Increase}} 4
|-
|align=left|East India
|63
|8
|{{Increase}} 3
|7
|{{Decrease}} 4
|'''48'''
|{{Increase}} 1
|-
|align=left|Union Territories
|22
|5
|{{Decrease}} 5
|3
|{{Steady}}
|'''14'''
|{{Increase}} 5
|-
|align=left|'''Total'''
|'''543'''
|'''145'''
|''+31''
|'''138'''
|''-44''
|'''264'''
|''+17''
|-
| colspan="8" align="left" |Source: Times of India<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lok Sabha Results Constituency Map: Lok Sabha Election Result with constituencies details along electoral map|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/constituency-map|access-date=2021-07-20|website=The Times of India}}</ref>
|}

===By states and territories===
====States====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|States
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|Party
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|Seats won
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|% of Votes
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|Alliance
|-
|align=left rowspan=6 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Andhra Pradesh)|Andhra Pradesh]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''29'''
|'''41.56'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Telugu Desam Party]]
|5
|33.12
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Telangana Rashtra Samithi]]
|5
|6.83
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India]]
|1
|1.34
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|1
|1.04
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|1
|7.7
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Arunachal Pradesh)|Arunachal Pradesh]]
|align=left| '''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
|'''2'''
|'''53.85'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Arunachal Congress]]
|0
|19.88
|[[Indian National Congress|INC affiliated parties]]
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|12.14
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|0
|9.96
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|4.16
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Assam)|Assam]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''9'''
|'''35.07'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|2
|22.94
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Asom Gana Parishad]]
|2
|19.95
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|1
|13.41
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|8.63
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=6 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Bihar)|Bihar]]
|align=left| '''[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]'''
|'''22'''
|'''30.67'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Janata Dal (United)]]
|6
|22.36
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|5
|14.57
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Lok Janshakti Party]]
|4
|8.19
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|3
|4.49
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|17.92
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Chhattisgarh)|Chhattisgarh]]
|align=left| '''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
|'''10'''
|'''47.78'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|1
|40.16
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|0
|4.54
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|3.86
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|3.66
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Goa)|Goa]]
|align=left| '''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''46.83'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|1
|29.76
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Nationalist Congress Party|National Congress Party]]
|0
|16.04
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India]]
|0
|2.17
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|5.20
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Gujarat)|Gujarat]]
|align=left| '''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
|'''14'''
|'''47.37'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|12
|43.86
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|3.45
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|0
|1.48
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|3.84
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Haryana)|Haryana]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''9'''
|'''42.13'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|1
|17.21
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Lok Dal]]
|0
|22.43
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Haryana Vikas Party]]
|0
|6.25
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|11.98
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=4 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Himachal Pradesh)|Himachal Pradesh]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''3'''
|'''51.81'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|1
|44.25
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|0
|1.74
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|1.66
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Jammu and Kashmir)|Jammu & Kashmir]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''2'''
|'''27.83'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference]]
|2
|22.02
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party]]
|1
|11.94
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|0
|23.04
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|1
|15.17
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=6 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Jharkhand)|Jharkhand]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''6'''
|'''21.44'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]]
|4
|16.28
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]
|2
|n/a
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|1
|33.01
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India]]
|1
|n/a
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|6.89
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Karnataka)|Karnataka]]
|align=left| '''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
|'''18'''
|'''34.77'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|8
|36.82
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Janata Dal (Secular)]]
|2
|20.45
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|2.34
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|5.62
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=6 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Kerala)|Kerala]]
|align=left| '''[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]'''
|'''12'''
|'''31.52'''
|'''[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India]]
|3
|7.89
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian Union Muslim League]]
|1
|4.86
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|0
|32.13
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|0
|5.1
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|4
|18.5
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Madhya Pradesh)|Madhya Pradesh]]
|align=left| '''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
|'''25'''
|'''48.13'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|4
|34.07
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|0
|4.75
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|4.02
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|9.03
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Maharashtra)|Maharashtra]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''13'''
|'''23.77'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|13
|22.61
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Shiv Sena]]
|12
|20.11
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Nationalist Congress Party]]
|9
|18.31
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|1
|15.20
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Manipur)|Manipur]]
|align=left| '''[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''22.46'''
|'''None'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|1
|14.88
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|0
|20.65
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Nationalist Congress Party]]
|0
|10.37
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|31.64
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=4 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Meghalaya)|Meghalaya]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''45.55'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[All India Trinamool Congress]]
|1
|28.27
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)]]
|0
|17.55
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|0
|8.63
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left rowspan=3 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Mizoram)|Mizoram]]
|align=left| '''[[Mizo National Front]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''52.46'''
|'''None'''
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|45.67
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Ephraim Union]]
|0
|1.87
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=4 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Nagaland)|Nagaland]]
|align=left| '''[[Nagaland People's Front]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''73.12'''
|'''None'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|0
|25.78
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|0.56
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Janata Dal (Secular)]]
|0
|0.54
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Orissa)|Orissa]]
|align=left| '''[[Biju Janata Dal]]'''
|'''11'''
|'''30.02'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|7
|19.30
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|2
|40.43
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|4.50
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|1
|5.75
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Punjab)|Punjab]]
|align=left| '''[[Shiromani Akali Dal]]'''
|'''8'''
|'''34.28'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|3
|10.48
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|2
|34.17
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|0
|7.67
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|13.40
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Rajasthan)|Rajasthan]]
|align=left| '''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
|'''21'''
|'''49.01'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|4
|41.42
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|0
|3.16
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|2.72
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|3.69
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=4 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Sikkim)|Sikkim]]
|align=left| '''[[Sikkim Democratic Front]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''69.84'''
|'''None'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|0
|27.43
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Sikkim Sangram Parishad]]
|0
|1.46
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad]]
|0
|1.26
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=8 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Tamil Nadu)|Tamil Nadu]]
|align=left| '''[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]'''
|'''16'''
|'''24.60'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|10
|14.40
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Pattali Makkal Katchi]]
|5
|6.71
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|4
|5.85
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India]]
|2
|2.97
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|2
|2.87
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|0
|29.77
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|12.83
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]])
|-
|align=left rowspan=4 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Tripura)|Tripura]]
|align=left| '''[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]'''
|'''2'''
|'''68.80'''
|'''Left Front'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|0
|14.28
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|0
|7.82
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[All India Trinamool Congress]]
|0
|5.09
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Uttar Pradesh)|Uttar Pradesh]]
|align=left| '''[[Samajwadi Party]]'''
|'''35'''
|'''26.74'''
|'''None'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]]
|19
|24.67
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|10
|22.17
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|9
|12.04
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|7
|14.38
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (1)
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (Uttarakhand)|Uttarakhand]]
|align=left| '''[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'''
|'''3'''
|'''40.98'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|1
|38.31
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Samajwadi Party]]
|1
|7.93
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|0
|6.77
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|6.01
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=8 valign=top|[[Indian general election, 2004 (West Bengal)|West Bengal]]
|align=left| '''[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]'''
|'''26'''
|'''38.57'''
|'''[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|6
|14.56
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India]]
|3
|4.01
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[All India Forward Bloc]]
|3
|3.66
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]]
|3
|4.48
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[All India Trinamool Congress]]
|1
|21.04
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|0
|8.06
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|5.62
|None
|-
|}

====Territories====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|Territories
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|Party
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|Seats won
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|% of Votes
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|Alliance
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 2004|Andaman & Nicobar Islands]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''55.77'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|0
|35.95
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|0
|2.71
|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|1.72
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|3.85
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=5 valign=top|[[Indian general election in Chandigarh, 2004|Chandigarh]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''52.06'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|0
|35.22
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Lok Dal]]
|0
|6.61
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|3.42
|None
|-
|align=left| Others
|0
|2.69
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=4 valign=top|[[Indian general election in National Capital Territory of Delhi, 2004|National Capital Territory of Delhi]]
|align=left| '''[[Indian National Congress]]'''
|'''6'''
|'''54.81'''
|'''[[United Progressive Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|1
|40.67
|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|0
|2.48
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|0
|1.27
|None
|-
|align=left rowspan=4 valign=top|[[Indian general election in Lakshadweep, 2004|Lakshadweep]]
|align=left| '''[[Janata Dal (United)]]'''
|'''1'''
|'''49.02'''
|'''[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'''
|-
|align=left| [[Indian National Congress]]
|0
|48.79
|[[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
|align=left| [[Janata Party]]
|0
|1.47
|None
|-
|align=left| [[Samajwadi Party]]
|0
|0.72
|None
|}

==Analysis==
{{main|2004 Indian general election analysis}}
Though pre-poll predictions were for an overwhelming majority for the BJP, the exit polls (immediately after the elections and before the counting began) predicted a [[hung parliament]]. However, even the exit polls could only indicate the general trend and nowhere close to the final figures. There is also the general perception that as soon as the BJP started realising that events might not proceed entirely in its favour, it changed the focus of its campaign from ''India Shining'' to issues of stability. The Congress, who was regarded as "old-fashioned" by the ruling BJP, was largely backed by poor, rural, lower-caste and minority voters that did not participate in the economic boom of previous years that created a large wealthy middle class and thus achieved its overwhelming victory. Another reason which was not mentioned much but still spoken of in the public was that BJP supporters are working-class people, and the poll surveys predicted BJP win, and therefore they did not reach the ballot. Whereas the Congress support base, the weaker sections of the society, don't miss voting at all.{{citation needed|reason=Which polling said that? Sources needed|date=April 2019}}

Another more prominent reason came from checking the RSS contribution, RSS cadres reached Vajpayee over the killing of 4 RSS workers in Tripura (August 1999), and Vajpayee disappointed them. RSS backed off, and results were evident.{{citation needed|reason=This section is more of an opinion. Sources needed or this must be removed.|date=July 2021}}

Other possible reasons that have been given for the NDA defeat are{{citation needed|reason=Whose analysis is this? Sources needed|date=August 2016}}:

* People were more concerned about issues of their immediate environment such as [[water scarcity in India|water scarcity]], drought, etc., than national issues.{{citation needed|reason=This section is more of an opinion. Sources needed or this must be removed.|date=July 2021}}
* The [[anti-incumbency]] factor was at work for the BJP allies.{{citation needed|reason=This section is more of an opinion. Sources needed or this must be removed.|date=July 2021}}
* It is also believed that voters, regardless of which country they are in, are enthused by negative messages and are indifferent to positive messages.{{citation needed|reason=This section is more of an opinion. Sources needed or this must be removed.|date=July 2021}}
* It is generally believed that RSS plays an important role in mobilising the BJP supporters, the results were not for the win for Congress led UPA, but more for the defeat of BJP led NDA. And, the reason was that RSS did not mobilise the voters and BJP cadres.{{citation needed|reason=This section is more of an opinion. Sources needed or this must be removed.|date=July 2021}}

==Impact==
The rout of the ruling parties in the states of [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]] in the general elections led to calls for the dissolution of the governments of these states.

The stock market ([[Bombay Stock Exchange]]) fell in the week prior to the announcement of the results due to fears of an unstable coalition. As soon as counting began, however, it became clear that the Congress coalition was headed for a sizeable lead over the NDA and the market surged, only to crash the following day when the left parties, whose support would be required for government formation, announced that it was their intention to do away with the disinvestment ministry. Following this, [[Manmohan Singh]], the Prime Minister (in office 2004–14) and the prime architect of the economic liberalisation of the early 1990s, hurried to reassure investors that the new government would strive to create a business-friendly climate.

==Events==
*13 May - The Congress and allies win a plurality of seats in the Lok Sabha (219 seats against 188 for the BJP).
*13 May - Counting of votes in the parliamentary elections begins.
*11 May - Congress wins the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh by 2/3 majority.
*10 May - The fourth and final phase of elections comes to an end. Results will come out for 542 of the 543 parliament seats with elections to be held again in [[Chhapra]].
*5 May - Third phase of polling comes to an end with the ruling coalition government gaining seats according to exit polls but still off the victory target. Reports of [[booth capturing]] in Chhapra capture headlines.
*26 April - Second phase of elections sees 55-60% polling. This is the final phase for assembly elections. Polling covers 136 parliamentary constituencies in 11 states. The share market starts to crash as it becomes evident that the NDA government may find it hard to come back to power—raising doubts about the continuation of economic reforms initiated by the NDA government.
*22 April - [[Tripura]], where polling was delayed because of a local holiday, votes for its two MPs. A turnout of close to 60% is reported, despite calls for abstention made by separatist militants.
*20 April - The first phase of the vote is held, with average turnouts of between 50% and 55%. Voting is reported as brisk, and the day unfolds relatively smoothly, albeit with some glitches reported with the electronic voting machines. Isolated violent incidents take place in [[Kashmir]], [[Jammu]], [[Manipur]], and [[Jharkhand]].
*8 April - The NDA's top leaders meet in [[New Delhi]] to adopt its [[manifesto]] for the elections, "Agenda for Development and Good Governance".
*7 April - [[Ram Jethmalani]] says he will contest the elections against Prime Minister Vajpayee as an independent candidate from [[Lucknow]]. He claims he will be supported by the Congress and some other parties.
*6 April - The BJP and the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) tell the Election Commission that they will not stop raising the issue of the foreign origin of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
*4 April - A [[First Information Report]] is lodged against [[external affairs]] [[Political minister|minister]] [[Yashwant Sinha]] for alleged violation of election [[code of conduct]] during a poll meeting in [[Ranchi]]. Besides Sinha, FIRs were lodged against three other BJP leaders who participated in the meeting.

==See also==
*[[2004 elections in India]]
*[[Election Commission of India]]

==Further reading==
*Shastri, Sandeep, K.C. Suri & Yogendra Yadav (2009) (ed.). ''Electoral Politics in Indian States : Lok Sabha Elections in 2004 and Beyond'', New Delhi : Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-806329-6}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://eci.nic.in/ Election Commission of India]
*[http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ Parliament of India]
*[http://in.rediff.com/election/map04.htm Interactive map at rediff.com]
*[http://theravingreporter.com/india-2004-gangsters-politics-poverty-caste-and-communal-violence-in-modis-home-state-and-bombay/ Report from Mumbai, Gujarat during 2004 election]

{{Indian elections}}

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