1998 Indian General Election

16, 22 and 28 February 1998 · Mandal, Mandir and the coalition era · 543 seats, 272 for a majority

General elections were held in India on 16, 22 and 28 February 1998 to elect the members of the twelfth Lok Sabha. The elections were held three years ahead of schedule after the government led by Inder Kumar Gujral collapsed when the Indian National Congress (INC) withdrew its support in November 1997.

Prime Minister before

Inder Kumar Gujral

Prime Minister after

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

BJP

Largest force

Bharatiya Janata Party

182 of 543 seats

Turnout

62.0%

The result

Sort by

Bharatiya Janata Party

Atal Bihari Vajpayee · 25.6% of votes

182

seats

Indian National Congress

Sonia Gandhi · 25.8% of votes

141

seats

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Harkishan Singh Surjeet · 5.2% of votes

seats

Samajwadi Party

4.9% of votes

seats

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

1.8% of votes

seats

Rashtriya Janata Dal

2.8% of votes

seats

Telugu Desam Party

2.8% of votes

seats

Samata Party

1.8% of votes

seats


Bharatiya Janata Party	NDA	Atal Bihari Vajpayee	182	—	9,42,66,188	25.6%	+5.3
Indian National Congress	INC+	Sonia Gandhi	141	—	9,51,11,131	25.8%	-3.0
Communist Party of India (Marxist)	LF	Harkishan Singh Surjeet	32	—	1,89,91,867	5.2%	-1.0
Samajwadi Party	—	—	20	—	1,81,67,640	4.9%	—
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	—	—	18	—	67,31,550	1.8%	—
Rashtriya Janata Dal	—	—	17	—	1,02,29,971	2.8%	—
Telugu Desam Party	—	—	12	—	1,01,99,463	2.8%	—
Samata Party	—	—	12	—	64,91,639	1.8%	—

109 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.