The complexity of India's general elections can be gauged from the following figures of the results from the last general elections to the Lok Sabha, India or Indian Parliament in the year 2004.

Congress and its Allies (United progressive Alliance)
Total seats:                              232

Congress                                              153
Rashtriya Janata Dal                              24
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam               16
Nationalist Congress Party                   11
Pattali Makkal Katchi                               6
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha                         5
Lok Jan Sakti Party                                 4
Muslim League                                        1
Peoples' Democratic Party                      1
Republican Party of India                        1
Others                                                    10

National Democratic Alliance
Total Seats:                          169

Bharatiya Janata Party                       130
Shiv Sena                                             12
Biju Janata Dal                                     11
Janata Dal –United                                8
Shiromani Akali Dal                                8

Left Parties and Allies
Total Seats :                         60

Communist Party of India – Marxist     43
Communist Party of India                    10
Revolutionary socialist Party                 3
All India Forward Block                          3
Kerala Congress – Joseph                     1
Others                                                 17