[6] With the ruling Union of Citizens of Georgia of President Eduard Shevardnadze being marred by the inner crisis, many of its members began to leave the party and the new forces have been poised to take the leading role in the political arena.

The New Rights furthered strengthened its positions in parliament in May 2002 when it forced the removal of all Committee Chairmen and redistribution of legislative leadership posts.

However, the issue of chosing the candidates for the local bodies caused struggle for control over the party among its rival groupings, with the influential governor of Kvemo Kartli Levan Mamaladze taking Zurab Zhvania to the courts.

[8] The United National Movement and the New Rights party engaged in bitter verbal struggle prior to the election, especially their leaders, Mikheil Saakashvili and Levan Gachechiladze respectively.

With neither anticipating to have a majority in Tbilisi Sakrebulo, Saakashvili was hoping for the Christian Conservative Party to cross the 4% electoral thershold, expecting Zhvania to be on his side.

The New Rights party, on the other hand, saw the Industry Will Save Georgia and potentially Democratic Union for Revival as allies, with both being strongly opposed to Saakashvili.

[7] The turnout in Tbilisi was very low, which has been described as showing "deep cynicism and weariness" of many citizens towards the politics due to poor state of the country.

The elections resulted in the victory for the opposition, with Mamaladze-led ruling UCG being routed in the polls, unable to secure any seats in the Tbilisi Sakrebulo, garnering only 2.4% of the vote.