Vidhan Sabha Elections 2002

Last updated August 28, 2002

Despite the prediction of most exit polls and massive party dissidence, Congress (click here for election manifesto) road the wave of disillusionment to win the first ever state elections in Uttarakhand. The BJP did much poorer than anyone predicted. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) did surprisingly well, emerging as a strong third party in the assembly. Voters kept away from the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, as they saw a better chance to voice their anti-incumbency feelings through Congress.

Click below for two follow-up articles from the Uttarakhand Support Committee:

Some key issues that may have determined election results throughout Uttarakhand:

  • Name of new state - last minute pledge by Congress to change the name of the state to Uttarakhand may have clinched the elections
  • Choice of capital - Dehra Dun residents voted unexpectedly for Congress, as the city is still suffering from being chosen capital and poor municipal services
  • Tehri dam rehabilitation fiasco - Congress swept in Tehri, as angry residents pledged to defeat government candidates
  • Exclusion of women - women, who were largely excluded by all parties, may have found solace in Sonia
  • Non-performing government - the 15-month BJP stint in office was lacklustre and divided
  • Forced inclusion of Hardwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts - voters in the terai districts voted solidly for the BSP and against the BJP that forced their inclusion into Uttaranchal
  • Local issues to the fore - the BJP's focus on national security and terrorism issues avoided the day-to-day problems the voters cared about
  • Coffin Scam - along with Tehelka, corruption severly limited the BJP's appeal to voters on defence issues

Here are the results:
Party Seats % Vote
Congress 36 26.7
BJP 19 25.3
BSP 7 11.7
UKD 4 5.4
NCP 1 1.5
Independents 3 10.1
Note that small and independent parties captured 43% of the vote, more than Congress or BJP.

The following list of links represents a comprehensive culling of news articles from the English language press that appeared in the two weeks ahead of the first ever state assembly elections in the new state of Uttaranchal, on February 14, 2002. A total of 927 candidates eventually campaigned for 70 seats.

Web Resources

Election Results from NIC
http://www.electionresults.nic.in

Garhwal Himalayas Site (w/ Local Correspondent)
http://www.garhwalhimalayas.com

Garhwal Post (English Weekly)
http://www.garhwalpost.com

Delimitation Documents
http://www.eci.gov.in/delimitation2001/delimitation_fs.htm

Constituency Maps
http://www.eci.gov.in/delimitation2001/indexMap.htm

Rediff Election Coverage
http://www.rediff.com/election/utanch_hdln.htm

Hindustan Times Election Coverage
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/misc/assembly/utr.shtml

Times of India Election Coverage
http://www.timesofindia.com/articlelist.asp?catkey=1788309185

Magazine Articles

Frontline Coverage: A wave of discontent (2/16/02)
http://www.flonnet.com/fl1904/19040330.htm

Frontline Coverage: An uphill campaign (2/2/02)
http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030370.htm

Outlook Coverage: The Cold Shoulder (2/4/02)
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20020204&fname=Uttaranchal+%28F%29&sid=1

Newspaper Articles

After the Elections

Return of the old guard
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020305/edit.htm#2

Demotion for Tiwari
http://www.indian-express.com/ie20020304/ed2.html

Opinion divided on Tiwari as Uttaranchal CM
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=2709108

Tewari spells out plan for Uttaranchal’s progress
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020304/nation.htm#4

Rawat may be mollified with Rajya Sabha seat
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar04/n5.htm

Tiwari may expand cabinet
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=2662235

CM Tiwari does the balancing act
http://www.indian-express.com/ie20020303/nat3.html

Cong stakes claim to form Govt
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/020302/detNAT13.asp

Tiwari faces revolt to candidature
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar02/itiwari.htm

February 28

Uttaranchal: State’s victory, Sonia’s CM
http://www.indian-express.com/ie20020228/top7.html

Tiwari nominated Chief Minister of Uttaranchal
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=43078

Tiwari named CM to end rift in party
http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2002022803131100.htm

February 25

A Caveat From The People
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?sid=5&fodname=20020224&fname=up

BJP drubbed in Uttaranchal
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/250202/detele15.asp

Top BJP guns bite the dust in hill state
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/250202/detELE09.asp

Surprise win for Cong
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb25/n16.htm

Disillusioned Uttaranchal dumps BJP
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=2005928

Search for CM begins in Uttaranchal
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=1988288

Koshiyari fails to deliver
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020225/nation.htm#2

UKD president's wife dead
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/240202/dlnat122.asp

February 15

In the hills, women left out in the cold
http://www.indian-express.com/ie20020215/op1.html

February 14

After birth pangs, Uttaranchal goes to polls today
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/misc/assembly/140202/dtutr01.asp

Trekking through snowbound terrains in Uttaranchal
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb14/n12.htm

Advantage BJP in Uttaranchal
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020214/nation.htm#10

Uttaranchal's maiden Assembly poll today
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020214/nation.htm#13

Polling in Uttaranchal passes off peacefully
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=982068

February 13

Winter hits Uttaranchal election officials
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb13/n10.htm

Uttaranchal: All in a name
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1816000/1816892.stm

BJP is zero, says 'hero' Jogi
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/130202/detNAT03.asp

Cong plays Uttarakhand card
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=899442

Hill people warm up to Sonia
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=844968

In Tehri, only dam matters
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=899398

Bitter cold may hit polling
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=899350

No major issues, only promises
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020213/1302135.htm

February 12

It may be Tehri's last poll before watery grave
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb12/n10.htm

Kapkot, Luxman Chowk hold key to Uttaranchal polls
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb12/n11.htm

Wine, women, Marxism to the fore
http://www1.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=705443

BJP, Cong rebel candidates pose problems
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020212/nation.htm#2

Its BJP versus Cong in Pratapnagar
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020212/1202526.htm

SP releases poll manifesto
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020212/1202525.htm

February 11

Uttaranchal: God’s creation or BJP's?
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/110202/detNAT07.asp

Sonia plays 'coffingate'
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020211/nation.htm#2

February 10

BJP warns against pro-Maoist voices in Uttaranchal
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/100202/detNAT02.asp

BJP may have edge in Dehra Dun
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020210/nation.htm#1

Campaigners battle rain, hail and snow
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020210/1002135.htm

February 9

It's BJP Vs Cong in Uttaranchal
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020209/0902522.htm

Analysis: Sushma's whirlwind tour of Uttaranchal
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020209/0902523.htm

February 8

Will it be BJP or Cong in Uttaranchal?
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb08/n11.htm

BJP shaken by Congress rise: Kamal Nath
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=55451415

Women in Uttaranchal sidelined by politicians
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020208/0802139.htm

Cong, BJP promise speedy development in Doiwala
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020208/0802140.htm

`Cong misleading Uttaranchal voters'
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020208/0802522.htm

Parties promise to rename Uttaranchal
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020208/nation.htm#1

February 7

Criminals in poll fray in Uttaranchal
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb07/n3.htm

135 candidates have criminal background in Uttaranchal
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020207/0702123.htm

Uttaranchal Govt has no development plan: Digvijay
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020207/0702128.htm

Dissidence to be deciding factor on Udhamsinghnagar
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020207/0702131.htm

February 6

Uttaranchal to remain under thumb of Centre
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=186550804

Birthpangs bedevil Uttaranchal
http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=708565116

Sacked priest backs Cong rebel
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020206/nation.htm#8

Criminals vie for seats
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020206/nation.htm#2

February 5

Kumaon voters cool to electioneering 
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb05/n10.htm

BJP, Congress in a fix over chief ministership
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020205/nation.htm#3

Sonia: Uttaranchal's dreams shattered
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/050202/detNAT02.asp

Sonia strikes chord in former Cong bastion
http://www.indian-express.com/ie20020205/nat5.html

February 4

Sonia to begin campaign in Uttaranchal
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb04/n6.htm

BJP safety drive tries to put lid on Cong coffin tirade
http://www.indian-express.com/ie20020204/nat7.html

Uttaranchal Cong expels rebels
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020204/nation.htm#4

UKD promises to change capital
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020204/0402139.htm

February 3

We gave Uttaranchal, now we promise welfare: Advani
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/030202/detNAT03.asp

Poll: Uttaranchal faces shortage of cops
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020203/nation.htm#5

February 1

Jogi brags about his achievements in Uttaranchal
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20020201/0102140.htm

Women get a raw deal in Uttaranchal polls
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/misc/assembly/310102/dtUTR07.asp

Temple, terror has no impact in Uttaranchal
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/misc/assembly/310102/dtUTR01.asp