This is the first time that the country faced another general election a year after the previous one. The Vajpayee Government which was in power following the General Elections of 1998 could hardly complete a year when it had to face a confidence motion as a result of the withdrawal of the AIADMK party from the Government.

The motion of confidence was defeated in the Lok Sabha by one vote and consequently the Vajpayee Government submitted its resignation. Although there was an attempt on the part of the Congress Party to form an alternate government, it did not succeed. There was thus no other alternative except dissolution of the Lok Sabha and ordering of new elections.

The thirteenth General Elections were fought by the Bharatiya Janata Party in alliance with a number of smaller political parties, most of who were with it in the Government that lost the confidence vote.

They joined together under the banner of the National Democratic Alliance with a common programme. The alliance parties, however, maintained their individual identities. The National Democratic Alliance was able to win 300 seats in the elections and therefore earned the right to form a new government.