Editing Atal Bihari Vajpayee (section)

==== 2004 general election ====
[[File:The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee casting his vote at a polling booth in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on May 5, 2004.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Vajpayee casting his vote at a polling booth in [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], during the 2004 general election.]]
In 2003, news reports suggested a tussle within the BJP with regard to sharing of leadership between Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/25/stories/2003092507200900.htm |title=Vajpayee is our leader, reiterates BJP |last=Vyas |first=Neena |date=25 September 2003 |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040204045322/http://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/25/stories/2003092507200900.htm |archive-date=4 February 2004 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/17bidwai.htm |title=BJP's leadership fissures |last=Bidwai |first=Praful |date=17 June 2003 |work=Rediff |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724150819/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/17bidwai.htm |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=live  }}</ref> BJP president [[Venkaiah Naidu]] had suggested that Advani must lead the party politically at the 2004 general elections, referring to Vajpayee as ''vikas purush'', Hindi for development man, and Advani as ''loh purush'', iron man.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayee-the-pregnant-pause-lengthens-forever/articleshow/65426150.cms|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The pregnant pause lengthens forever|last=Arun|first=T. K.|date=16 August 2018|work=The Economic Times|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817161545/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayee-the-pregnant-pause-lengthens-forever/articleshow/65426150.cms|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> When Vajpayee subsequently threatened retirement, Naidu backtracked, announcing that the party would contest the elections under the twin leadership of Vajpayee and Advani.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/06/06/stories/2003060600050800.htm |title=Vikas and loh |last=Raghavan |first=S |date=6 June 2003 |work=Business Line |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523061621/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/06/06/stories/2003060600050800.htm |archive-date=23 May 2006 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

The NDA was widely expected to retain power after the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 general election]]. It announced elections six months ahead of schedule, hoping to capitalise on economic growth, and Vajpayee's peace initiative with Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/13/international/asia/in-huge-upset-gandhis-party-wins-election-in-india.html |title=In Huge Upset, Gandhi's Party Wins Election in India |last=Waldman |first=Amy |date=13 May 2004 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214424/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/13/international/asia/in-huge-upset-gandhis-party-wins-election-in-india.html |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Guardian_2004">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/14/india.randeepramesh |title=Shock defeat for India's Hindu nationalists |last=Ramesh |first=Randeep |date=14 May 2004 |work=The Guardian |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144006/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/14/india.randeepramesh |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The [[13th Lok Sabha]] was dissolved before the completion of its term. The BJP hoped to capitalise on a perceived 'feel-good factor' and BJP's recent successes in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and [[Chhattisgarh]]. Under the "[[India Shining]]" campaign, it released ads proclaiming the economic growth of the nation under the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://india.eu.org/1634.html|title=India Shining backfired: Advani – Debating India|website=india.eu.org|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227081851/http://india.eu.org/1634.html|archive-date=27 December 2005|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/532006/bjp-and-the-india-shining-campaign/|title=BJP and the India Shining campaign {{!}} The Express Tribune|date=6 April 2013|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729065335/https://tribune.com.pk/story/532006/bjp-and-the-india-shining-campaign/|archive-date=29 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, the BJP could only win 138 seats in the 543-seat parliament,<ref name="Economist_2004">{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2004/05/13/the-voters-big-surprise |title=The voters' big surprise |date=13 May 2004 |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214608/https://www.economist.com/asia/2004/05/13/the-voters-big-surprise |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> with several prominent cabinet ministers being defeated.<ref name="Guardian_2004" /> The NDA coalition won 185 seats. The Indian National Congress, led by [[Sonia Gandhi]], emerged as the single largest party, winning 145 seats in the election. The Congress and its allies, comprising many smaller parties, formed the [[United Progressive Alliance]], accounting for 220 seats in the parliament.<ref name="Economist_2004" /> Vajpayee resigned as prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/05/13/india.poll.counting/|title=CNN.com – Vajpayee resigns after poll upset – May 13, 2004|publisher=CNN|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816175253/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/05/13/india.poll.counting/|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The UPA, with the outside support of communist parties, formed the next government with [[Manmohan Singh]] as the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2004/05/20/sonia-and-yet-so-far |title=Sonia: and yet so far |date=20 May 2004 |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214453/https://www.economist.com/asia/2004/05/20/sonia-and-yet-so-far |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>                                                   Later, his aide Shiv Kumar Pareek revealed he didn't wanted earlier polls and sensed the defeat earlier.<ref>https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/atal-bihari-vajpayee-didnt-want-to-advance-2004-polls-feared-defeat-says-his-aide-1906801#google_vignette</ref>