Report by Swati
New Delhi 27 july
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has experienced remarkably few electoral setbacks during his political career, transforming from a relatively unknown party organiser into one of India’s most influential political leaders.
In October 2001, despite not being a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Modi was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He formally entered electoral politics in February 2002, winning the Rajkot-II Assembly by-election—his first-ever election. The victory margin of approximately 14,700 votes remains the narrowest electoral win of his political career.
Modi continued as Gujarat’s Chief Minister until May 2014, when he led the BJP to a historic victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Under his leadership, the party secured 282 seats, forming India’s first single-party majority government since 1984.
The BJP further strengthened its position in the 2019 general election, winning 303 Lok Sabha seats, widely regarded as the peak of Modi’s national popularity. However, in the 2024 general election, the party’s tally declined to 240 seats, leaving it short of a parliamentary majority on its own and requiring support from National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners to form the government.
Political observers note that since assuming office in 2001, Modi’s leadership has been characterised by a highly centralised style of governance, with limited political pressure from the opposition. Throughout his tenure, there have been relatively few instances where he has been compelled to reverse or substantially alter key political decisions.
One of the most significant periods of political pressure came in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots, when demands for his resignation as Chief Minister emerged from political opponents and sections of civil society. Despite the controversy, the pressure did not ultimately result in his resignation, and he remained in office before going on to win successive elections in Gujarat.
Today, Narendra Modi continues to be one of the most dominant figures in Indian politics, with his leadership shaping the BJP’s electoral strategy and governance at both the state and national levels.
