Editing Bharatiya Janata Party (section)

=== Vajpayee and Advani era (1996–2004) ===
{{further|National Democratic Alliance}}

A coalition of regional parties formed the government in 1996, but this grouping was short-lived, and mid-term polls were held in 1998. The BJP contested the elections leading a coalition called the [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), which contained its existing allies like the [[Samata Party]], the [[Shiromani Akali Dal]], the [[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]] in addition to the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) and the [[Biju Janata Dal]]. Among these regional parties, the Shiv Sena was the only one that had an ideology similar to the BJP; [[Amartya Sen]], for example, called the coalition an "ad hoc" grouping.{{sfn|Sen|2005|p=254}} The NDA had a majority with outside support from the [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) and Vajpayee returned as Prime Minister.{{sfn|rediff.com|1998}} However, the coalition ruptured in May 1999 when the leader of AIADMK, [[J. Jayalalithaa]], withdrew her support, and fresh elections were held again.{{sfn|Outlook|2013}}

On 13 October 1999, without the AIADMK, the NDA won 303 seats in parliament and thus an outright majority. The BJP had its highest-ever tally of 183. Vajpayee became Prime Minister for the third time; Advani became Deputy Prime Minister{{efn|in 2002}} and [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Affairs Minister]]. This NDA government lasted its full term of five years. Its policy agenda included a more aggressive stance on defence and terror and [[Neoliberalism|neo-liberal]] economic policies.{{sfn|Sen|2005|pp=251–272}} In 2001, [[Bangaru Laxman]], then the BJP president, was filmed accepting a bribe in [[Operation West End|a sting operation]].{{sfn|Kattakayam|2012}}{{sfn|India Today|2001}} He was compelled to resign and was subsequently prosecuted, eventually being sentenced to four years in prison.{{sfn|Tehelka|2001}}

==== 2002 Gujarat violence ====
{{Main|2002 Gujarat violence}}
On 27 February 2002, a [[Godhra train burning|train carrying Hindu pilgrims was burned]] outside the town of [[Godhra]], killing 59 people. The incident was seen as an attack upon Hindus, and sparked off massive anti-Muslim violence across the state of [[Gujarat]] that lasted several weeks.{{sfn|Ghassem-Fachandi|2012|pp=1–31}} The death toll estimated was as high as 2000, while 150,000 were displaced.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|2013|p=16}} Rape, mutilation, and torture were also widespread.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|2013|p=16}}{{sfn|Harris|2012}} The then-Gujarat chief minister [[Narendra Modi]] and several high-ranking government officials were accused of initiating and condoning the violence, as were police officers who allegedly directed the rioters and gave them lists of Muslim-owned properties.{{sfn|Krishnan|2012}} In April 2009, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate and expedite the Gujarat riots cases. In 2012, Modi was cleared of complicity in the violence by the SIT. BJP [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] [[Maya Kodnani]], who later held a cabinet portfolio in the Modi government, was convicted of having orchestrated one of the riots and sentenced to 28 years imprisonment;{{sfn|Hindustan Times|2014}}{{sfn|NDTV.com|2012}} she was later acquitted by the [[Gujarat High Court]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 April 2018 |title=Naroda Patiya verdict: Gujarat HC acquits Maya Kodnani, commutes Babu Bajrangi's sentence |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/naroda-patiya-case-gujarat-hc-acquits-maya-kodnani-upholds-babu-bajrangi-s-conviction-1216228-2018-04-20 |url-status=live |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229064652/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/naroda-patiya-case-gujarat-hc-acquits-maya-kodnani-upholds-babu-bajrangi-s-conviction-1216228-2018-04-20 |archive-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> Scholars such as [[Paul Brass]], [[Martha Nussbaum]] and [[Dipankar Gupta]] have said that there was a high level of state complicity in the incidents.{{sfn|Brass|2005|pp=385–393}}{{sfn|Gupta|2011|p=252}}{{sfn|Nussbaum|2008|p=2}}