Rajasthan: the INC years, 1951–1972
16 Assembly elections · 1951–2023 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.
Rajasthan has voted in 16 Assembly elections between 1951 and 2023. Indian National Congress has been the largest party in 10 of them — a long grip on the state.
Power has changed hands 9 times. The steadiest run was Indian National Congress's — the top party from 1951 to 1972 across 5 elections.
In 2008, Indian National Congress broke through — 96 of 200 seats — ending Bharatiya Janata Party's hold, which fell from 120 to 78.
In 2013, Bharatiya Janata Party broke through — 163 of 200 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 96 to 21.
In 2018, Indian National Congress broke through — 99 of 199 seats — ending Bharatiya Janata Party's hold, which fell from 163 to 73.
In 2023, Bharatiya Janata Party broke through — 115 of 200 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 99 to 70.
The sharpest single swing was 1977: Janata Party went from 0 to 152 seats, a gain of 152.
Janata Party's steepest fall came in 1980, from 152 seats to 8.
Most recently, in 2023, Bharatiya Janata Party holds 115 of 200 seats on 42.1% of the vote — a clear majority (101).
Pivotal elections
who held the house, seat by seat- INC6244%
- IND3525%
- RRP2417%
- BJS86%
- Others118%
Indian National Congress · 39.5% of the vote · short of majority
- JNP15276%
- INC4121%
- IND53%
- CPI11%
- Others11%
Janata Party · 50.4% of the vote · majority
- BJP11557%
- INC7035%
- IND84%
- BHRTADVSIP32%
- Others42%
Bharatiya Janata Party · 42.1% of the vote · majority
Every time power changed hands
- 1977JNP took the house with 152 of 200, ending INC’s run (145 → 41).
- 1980INC took the house with 133 of 200, ending JNP’s run (152 → 8).
- 1990BJP took the house with 85 of 200, ending INC’s run (113 → 50).
- 1998INC took the house with 153 of 200, ending BJP’s run (95 → 33).
- 2003BJP took the house with 120 of 200, ending INC’s run (153 → 56).
- 2008INC took the house with 96 of 200, ending BJP’s run (120 → 78).
- 2013BJP took the house with 163 of 200, ending INC’s run (96 → 21).
- 2018INC took the house with 99 of 199, ending BJP’s run (163 → 73).
- 2023BJP took the house with 115 of 200, ending INC’s run (99 → 70).
Party identity
renames, splits and mergers along the way- Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.
- Bharatiya Janata Party broke away from Janata Party in 1980.
- Janata Party saw Bharatiya Janata Party break away in 1980 (formed by former Jana Sangh bloc after the Janata Party split); saw JNPSC break away in 1979; absorbed Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; absorbed Swatantra Party in 1977; absorbed BLD in 1977; took in Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; took in Swatantra Party in 1974; took in BLD in 1977; took in NCO in 1977.