2002 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election

The 2002 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections were held in December 2002; they necessitated by the resignation of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the dissolution of the legislative assembly in July 2002, 8 months before its term was due to expire. Modi resigned due to widespread allegations that he had taken insufficient action to prevent the riots that took place a few months earlier. The Bharatiya Janata Party was led by Modi, with the Indian National Congress being the chief opposition.

As a result of those communal riots, a major issue in the election was the place of Muslims in Gujarati society. Seeking to capitalize on the sentiments stirred up by the riots caused by burning of a S-6 train coach containing Hindu kar sevaks (including children) coming from Ayodhya killing 59 people.^[2]^[3]^[4] 31 Muslims were convicted of burning the S-6 train coach in 2011 by special court.^[5]

The legislative assembly of Gujarat is elected from 182 constituencies, which were contested by a total of 21 parties and several hundred independent candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party won 127 seats, thus achieving an absolute majority in the assembly. Modi was sworn in for a second term as chief minister.

Results

Elected members

The following candidates won election from their respective seats:^[7]

References

^"Schedule for election to Gujarat Legislative Assembly". Press Information Bureau. 18 November 2002.
^Brasted, Howard V (2005). Nelly Lahoud, A H Johns (ed.). Islam in World Politics. Routledge. p. 119. ISBN 978-0415324113. the successful anti-Muslim campaign run in Gujarat in December 2002 by its provincial chief minister Narendra Modi – a hardline Hindu nationalist preacher turned politician – has ominous implicitions.
^Corbridge, Stuart; John Harriss; Craig Jeffrey (2012). India Today: Economy, Politics and Society. Polity Press. p. 185. ISBN 978-0745661124. December 2002, the BJP – led by Narendra Modi, who conducted a vicious campaign, making many stridently anti-Muslim statements
^Hardgrave Jr., Robert L. (2005). "Hindu Nationalism and the BJP: Transforming Religion and Politics in India". In Dossani, Rafiq; Rowen, Henry S. (eds.). Prospects For Peace in South Asia. Stanford University Press. pp. 210–211. ISBN 9780804750851. In the campaign, Modi fused religion and politics and, as a spur to anti-Muslim sentiment, made Islamic terrorism and its ties to Pakistan a central plank in the BJP platform" etc
^"India Godhra train blaze verdict: 31 convicted". BBC. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
^"Statistical Report on Generlal Election, 2002 to the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
^"Statistical Report On General Election, 2002 to the Legislative Assembly Of Gujarat"(PDF). New Delhi: Election Commission of India. p. 228. Archived from the original(PDF) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2013.

Notes

^Served as MP from Kapadvanj Lok Sabha constituency

[1] "Schedule for election to Gujarat Legislative Assembly". Press Information Bureau. 18 November 2002.

[Brasted-3] Brasted, Howard V (2005). Nelly Lahoud, A H Johns (ed.). Islam in World Politics. Routledge. p. 119. ISBN 978-0415324113. the successful anti-Muslim campaign run in Gujarat in December 2002 by its provincial chief minister Narendra Modi – a hardline Hindu nationalist preacher turned politician – has ominous implicitions.

[Corbridge_2012-4] Corbridge, Stuart; John Harriss; Craig Jeffrey (2012). India Today: Economy, Politics and Society. Polity Press. p. 185. ISBN 978-0745661124. December 2002, the BJP – led by Narendra Modi, who conducted a vicious campaign, making many stridently anti-Muslim statements

[5] Hardgrave Jr., Robert L. (2005). "Hindu Nationalism and the BJP: Transforming Religion and Politics in India". In Dossani, Rafiq; Rowen, Henry S. (eds.). Prospects For Peace in South Asia. Stanford University Press. pp. 210–211. ISBN 9780804750851. In the campaign, Modi fused religion and politics and, as a spur to anti-Muslim sentiment, made Islamic terrorism and its ties to Pakistan a central plank in the BJP platform" etc

[6] "India Godhra train blaze verdict: 31 convicted". BBC. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2025.

[election2002-7] "Statistical Report on Generlal Election, 2002 to the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 1 August 2022.

[8] "Statistical Report On General Election, 2002 to the Legislative Assembly Of Gujarat"(PDF). New Delhi: Election Commission of India. p. 228. Archived from the original(PDF) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2013.

[2] Served as MP from Kapadvanj Lok Sabha constituency

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