Bharatiya Janata Party facts for kids

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a major political party in India. It is one of the two biggest political parties in the country, along with the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, the BJP has been the party in power in India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP is known for its right-wing politics and has strong connections to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a volunteer organization. The party's main ideas are based on Hindutva, which is a form of Hindu nationalism. As of 2024, the BJP is the largest political party in India, both in the Parliament of India and in state governments.

The BJP started from an older party called the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was founded in 1951. After a period of emergency rule in India (1975–1977), the Jana Sangh joined with other parties to form the Janata Party. This new party won the 1977 general election. However, the Janata Party broke up in 1980. Members from the old Jana Sangh then formed the modern-day BJP.

At first, the BJP was not very successful, winning only two seats in the 1984 election. But it grew stronger, especially because of a movement to build a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP started winning more state elections and doing better in national elections. In 1996, it became the largest party in Parliament. However, its government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, lasted only 13 days because it did not have enough support.

After the 1998 election, the BJP led a group of parties called the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This government, again led by Prime Minister Vajpayee, lasted for one year. After new elections, the NDA government, still with Vajpayee as Prime Minister, completed a full five-year term. This was the first time a non-Congress government had done so.

In the 2004 election, the NDA lost unexpectedly. For the next ten years, the BJP was the main opposition party. Then, Narendra Modi, who was the chief minister of Gujarat at the time, led the party to a big victory in the 2014 general election. Modi has been the Prime Minister of India ever since. He was re-elected with a majority in 2019 and with a coalition in 2024. As of late 2023, the NDA alliance governs 17 Indian states and union territories.

The BJP's official philosophy is called integral humanism. This idea was first explained by Deendayal Upadhyaya in 1965. The party supports traditional social values and a foreign policy based on national pride. When the BJP first led the national government, it focused more on making the economy stronger and more open to the world. Since 2014, the BJP government has worked on some key goals of the RSS. These include making triple talaq illegal and changing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Party Name, Symbol, and Colors

BJP flag being flown at a campaign rally.

The founders of the party chose its name and symbol. The name "Bharatiya Janata Party" means "Indian People's Party." The party's symbol is the lotus flower.

The lotus flower is important in Indian culture and in Hinduism. It is seen as a symbol of peace and good fortune. During India's fight for independence from British rule, the lotus was also a symbol of rebellion. The lotus is also the national flower of India. Using this symbol helps the party connect with national pride and Hindu traditions.

The BJP also uses the color saffron a lot in its materials and campaigns. Saffron is a very important color in Hinduism. The party's flag is mostly saffron with a green stripe on the left. The lotus symbol is also on the saffron part of the flag. This design helps the party show itself as a party that respects all religions, while also keeping its strong connection to Hindu traditions for its supporters.

How the Party Started

Bharatiya Jana Sangh (1951–1977)

Important Leaders

Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the first president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh

Lal Krishna Advani, a key leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh

The BJP's roots are in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, often called the Jana Sangh. Syama Prasad Mukherjee founded it in 1951. He wanted to create a political group that would be different from the powerful Indian National Congress party. The Jana Sangh worked closely with the Hindu nationalist volunteer group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and was seen as its political arm.

The Jana Sangh wanted to protect India's "Hindu" culture. It also wanted to challenge what it saw as unfair treatment of Muslim people and Pakistan by the Congress party. The RSS sent many of its full-time workers, called pracharaks, to help start the Jana Sangh. Deendayal Upadhyaya was an important leader who became the General Secretary. In the first general elections in 1952, the Jana Sangh won only three seats in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Parliament). It remained a small party in Parliament until 1967.

In 1953, the Jana Sangh began a campaign for Jammu and Kashmir to be fully part of India. Mukherjee was arrested for entering Kashmir without permission and passed away the next month. Upadhyaya then became the General Secretary and worked to build the party's local groups, similar to the RSS. Younger leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani also became involved. Vajpayee became president in 1968. During this time, the party focused on creating a common set of laws for all citizens, stopping cow slaughter, and changing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

After state elections in 1967, the Jana Sangh joined with other parties to form governments in several states in northern India, like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. This was the first time the Jana Sangh held political office, even though it was part of a coalition.

Janata Party (1977–1980)

In 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India. The Jana Sangh joined in protests, and many of its members were put in jail. In 1977, the emergency ended, and new elections were held. The Jana Sangh merged with other parties to form the Janata Party. Their main goal was to defeat Indira Gandhi.

The Janata Party won the 1977 election and formed a government with Morarji Desai as Prime Minister. The former Jana Sangh members made up the largest part of the Janata Party's members in Parliament. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had led the Jana Sangh, became the Minister of External Affairs.

However, the Janata Party faced challenges. Some members of the Janata Party wanted the former Jana Sangh members to separate from the RSS, but they refused. Eventually, a part of the Janata Party broke away. The government lost its majority, and Morarji Desai had to resign. After a short period of other governments, new elections were held in 1980. The Janata Party did not do well, winning only 31 seats. In April 1980, the Janata Party decided that its members could not also be members of the RSS. Because of this, the former Jana Sangh members left and created a new political party: the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Party History

Formation and Early Days

Important Leaders

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the first president of the Bharatiya Janata Party

Even though the BJP was a new party, most of its members were the same as those from the old Jana Sangh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee became its first president. At first, the BJP tried to be more moderate in its Hindu nationalism to attract more people. It focused on ideas like Gandhian socialism. But this approach was not successful. In the 1984 elections, the BJP won only two seats in the Lok Sabha. This was partly because of a lot of support for the Indian National Congress after the assassination of Indira Gandhi a few months earlier.

Ram Janmabhoomi Movement

Ram Rath Yatra

Because Vajpayee's moderate approach didn't work, the party's ideas shifted towards a stronger Hindu nationalism. In 1984, Advani became the party president. Under his leadership, the BJP became the main political voice for the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

In the early 1980s, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) started a campaign to build a temple for the Hindu god Rama at a disputed site in Ayodhya. This site was where the Babri Mosque had been built in 1527. Many believed that a temple had stood there before the mosque was built, and that it was Rama's birthplace. The BJP strongly supported this campaign and made it a key part of their election promises. In 1989, the party won 86 seats in the Lok Sabha.

In September 1990, Advani began a Rath Yatra (a journey by chariot) to Ayodhya to support the Ram temple movement. The BJP withdrew its support from the government, leading to new elections. The BJP won even more seats, reaching 120, and also won a majority in the Uttar Pradesh state assembly.

On December 6, 1992, a large rally of VHP and BJP activists took place at the mosque site. The mosque was then destroyed. In the following weeks, there were conflicts between groups across the country. Many BJP leaders, including Advani, were arrested. In the 1996 parliamentary elections, the BJP used the strong feelings from these events to win 161 Lok Sabha seats, becoming the largest party in Parliament. Vajpayee became Prime Minister, but his government had to resign after 13 days because it could not get enough support.

In 2019, the Supreme Court of India made a decision about the Ayodhya dispute. Following this, the government announced a trust to build the temple. On January 22, 2024, the Ram Mandir was officially opened. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the opening ceremony, saying it was the start of a new era. The temple is expected to be fully finished by December 2024.

Vajpayee Era (1996–2004)

After a short-lived government, new elections were held in 1998. The BJP ran the elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a group of different parties. The NDA won a majority with support from other parties, and Vajpayee became Prime Minister again. However, the coalition broke apart in May 1999, leading to new elections.

On October 13, 1999, the NDA won 303 seats in Parliament, giving them a clear majority. The BJP itself won 183 seats, its highest number ever at that time. Vajpayee became Prime Minister for the third time, and Advani became Deputy Prime Minister. This NDA government completed its full five-year term. Its policies included a stronger focus on defense and fighting terrorism, and economic policies that encouraged free markets.

In Opposition (2004–2014)

Vajpayee called for early elections in 2004. The NDA's campaign used the slogan "India Shining", suggesting that the country was growing fast because of their policies. However, the NDA lost unexpectedly, winning only 186 seats compared to the Congress party and its allies. Manmohan Singh became the new Prime Minister. Many people thought the NDA lost because it didn't connect enough with people in rural areas.

In May 2008, the BJP won state elections in Karnataka. This was the first time the party won state elections in a southern Indian state. In the 2009 general elections, its number of seats in the Lok Sabha went down to 116. It also lost the Karnataka state election in 2013.

Modi Era (2014–Present)

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India since 2014

Amit Shah has been a long-serving National President of the BJP

First Modi Government (2014–2019)

In the 2014 Indian general election, the BJP won 282 seats. This meant the NDA, led by the BJP, had 336 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha. Narendra Modi became the 14th Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014. This was the first time since 1984 that a single party won a clear majority in the Indian Parliament on its own. The BJP's support was strongest in the Hindi-speaking areas of North-central India.

Many reasons were suggested for this big victory, including Modi's popularity and a decrease in support for the Congress party. The BJP also gained support from different groups of people, including middle-class and Dalit people. However, its support among Muslims remained low.

After winning the election, the BJP's organization became more focused around Modi. People who were loyal to Modi were given important leadership roles in different states. Amit Shah, a close friend of Modi, became the president of the BJP in 2014. Some older, experienced leaders of the party were given less prominent roles.

During Modi's first term as prime minister, the BJP grew stronger in several states where it had not been very powerful before. It also regained power in other states where it had been in opposition for a long time. States like Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir saw the BJP's influence increase, and the party formed governments in many of these states.

Second Modi Government (2019–2024)

In 2019, the BJP won the general election with an even larger majority. Soon after returning to power, on August 5, 2019, the Modi government changed the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. This region has been a subject of dispute among India, Pakistan, and China. The government also changed Jammu and Kashmir from a state into two smaller union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Later in 2019, the Modi government introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. This law changed the Citizenship Act, 1955. It offered a path to Indian citizenship for certain illegal immigrants who had faced difficulties in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 2014. These groups included Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, or Christians. However, Muslims from those countries were not included. This was the first time that religion was clearly used as a reason for citizenship in Indian law. This law led to widespread protests across India.

Party Ideas and Policies

The BJP is generally seen as a right-wing party. More recently, it has been described as a far-right party, but one that still supports democracy.

Social Policies and Hindutva

The BJP's official philosophy is "Integral humanism." This idea, developed by Deendayal Upadhyaya in 1965, suggests an economic model that focuses on people. The party is also committed to Hindutva, an idea from Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The party says Hindutva is about cultural nationalism, favoring Indian culture over Western influences, and includes all Indians. However, some experts say Hindutva aims to make India a Hindu country, excluding other religions.

The BJP's Hindutva ideas have influenced many of its government policies. It supports building the Ram Mandir temple at the disputed site of the Babri Mosque. This was a major election promise in 1991. The government also made changes to school textbooks, which some scholars said was an attempt to promote a particular view of Indian history.

The connections between the BJP and the RSS grew stronger under the Modi government. The RSS helped the BJP in elections, and the Modi government appointed many people linked to the RSS to important government jobs. The Modi government also made changes to history textbooks, focusing more on Modi's role and showing Indian society as always peaceful.

The BJP supports a uniform civil code. This would mean having one set of personal laws for all citizens, no matter their religion, replacing the current laws that differ by religious community. The BJP also supported, and in 2019, changed Article 370 of the Constitution of India. This article had given more independence to Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, it changed Jammu and Kashmir from a state into two union territories.

The BJP is against illegal immigration from Bangladesh. The party says that this migration, mostly in Assam and West Bengal, harms the country's safety and economy. Some experts point out that the BJP calls Hindu migrants from Bangladesh "refugees" but calls Muslim migrants "illegal." The Modi government passed a citizenship law in 2019 that offered citizenship to certain religious minorities who faced difficulties in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. This law did not include Muslims. This was the first time religion was openly used as a reason for citizenship in Indian law.

In 2013, the Supreme Court of India brought back a law that made homosexuality illegal. The BJP president at the time said the party supported this law. However, after winning the 2014 elections, the party's stance became softer. The Modi government is against same-sex marriage. They have stated that legalizing it would disrupt the balance of personal laws in India and does not fit the Indian idea of a family unit.

Economic Policies

The BJP's economic policies have changed a lot over time. In the 1980s, it supported local industries and products and wanted to protect them from foreign competition. However, it also supported opening up the economy within India. When it was in government in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the BJP moved away from protecting local industries and towards globalisation. During the NDA's time in power, many foreign companies came to India.

The two NDA governments from 1998 to 2004 reduced government control and sold off some government-owned businesses. They also lowered tariffs (taxes on imported goods). These changes helped India's economy grow a lot. The 2004 election slogan "India Shining" was based on the idea that free markets would bring wealth to everyone. However, after their unexpected loss, some said the party was punished for not paying enough attention to the needs of poor people.

The economic policies of Modi's government have focused on making the economy more open and privatizing businesses. Modi made it easier for foreign companies to invest in India, including in defense and railways. His government also proposed changes to labor laws, which were met with strong opposition from unions. Modi has also taken a more protectionist approach to international trade in his second term, focusing on national self-sufficiency.

Defence and Counterterrorism

The BJP has a more assertive and nationalistic approach to defense and terrorism compared to the Congress party. The Vajpayee-led NDA government conducted nuclear weapons tests and passed a law to fight terrorism, which was later criticized. It also sent troops to remove intruders from Kargil and supported the United States' fight against terrorism.

Even though previous governments had the ability to test nuclear weapons, the Vajpayee government decided to do so in 1998. These tests were seen as a way to show India's military strength. The Vajpayee government also ordered the Indian army to remove Pakistani soldiers who had entered Kashmir territory. This conflict became known as the Kargil War.

After a terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001, the NDA government passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act. This law aimed to help the government deal with terrorism. However, it was criticized by other parties and experts for limiting civil liberties, and some said it was used unfairly against Muslims. The law was later removed in 2004.

The Modi government has carried out several strikes in neighboring countries to fight terrorism. This includes operations in Myanmar, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Pakistan. It also helped Bhutan during a standoff with China. The Modi government sees national security as a key priority and has made many long-awaited defense reforms. In August 2019, it created the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to improve coordination among the armed forces.

Foreign Policy

Historically, the BJP's foreign policy, like that of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, was based on strong Hindu nationalism and protecting local industries. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded with the goal of reversing the partition of India, so it believed that Pakistan's existence was not right. This strong feeling against Pakistan still influences the BJP's ideas. During the Cold War, the party was against India's policy of not taking sides and wanted closer ties with the United States. After the Cold War, the party has largely agreed with India's foreign policy of improving relations with the United States, while also wanting a world with many powerful countries.

The Vajpayee government's foreign policy was a big change from the BJP's usual ideas in some ways. It focused more on practical results than on old ideals. Vajpayee visited Pakistan in 1998 and started a bus service between Delhi and Lahore. He signed the Lahore Declaration, which aimed to improve relations after the 1998 nuclear tests. However, the presence of Pakistani soldiers in Kashmir was discovered a few months later, leading to the Kargil War. Despite the war, Vajpayee continued to try to talk with Pakistan.

The Vajpayee government also supported the U.S. War on Terror. This led to closer defense ties with the US. However, the BJP strongly spoke out against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying it was an "unjustified military action." The BJP also opposed the 2011 military intervention in Libya.

The Modi government initially tried to improve relations with Pakistan, with Modi visiting Pakistan in 2015. However, relations later worsened. The Modi government has since taken a "hardline" approach to Pakistan. In 2015, the Modi government was accused by the Nepalese government of blocking supplies to Nepal. The Modi government also expressed concern after the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état but maintained friendly relations with the military government. The Modi government remained neutral on the Russo-Ukrainian War, not taking sides in the conflict.

How the Party is Organized

A diagram of the structure of the Bharatiya Janata Party

The BJP has a clear structure, with the president being the highest authority. Until 2012, a president could serve only one three-year term. This rule was changed to allow a maximum of two terms in a row.

Below the president is the National Executive. This group includes many senior leaders from all over the country and is the party's main decision-making body. It has several vice-presidents, general-secretaries, treasurers, and secretaries who work directly with the president. The same kind of structure, with a committee led by a president, exists at the state, regional, district, and local levels.

In April 2015, the BJP announced it had over 100 million registered members, which would make it the largest political party in the world by membership. As of September 2022, the party did not have any Muslim representatives in Parliament or state assemblies.

The BJP is a party that relies on its dedicated workers. It has close ties with other organizations that share similar ideas, such as the RSS, ABVP, and VHP. The members of these groups often help the BJP. Its lower-level members mostly come from the RSS and its related groups, known as the Sangh Parivar:

• The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (All India Students' Union), which is the student group of the RSS.
• The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (Indian Farmer's Union), which is the farmers' group.
• The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (Indian Labourers Union), which is the labor union connected to the RSS.

The party also has its own special groups, such as:

• The BJP Mahila Morcha (BJP Women's Front), for women.
• The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (Indian People's Youth Front), for young people.
• The BJP Minority Morcha (BJP Minority Front), for minority groups.

The BJP claims to have over 170 million members as of October 2022, making it one of the largest political parties globally.

Election Results

The Bharatiya Janata Party was officially founded in 1980. The first general election it took part in was in 1984, where it won only two seats in the Lok Sabha. After the 1996 election, the BJP became the largest party in the Lok Sabha for the first time, but its government did not last long. In the 1998 and 1999 elections, it remained the largest party and led the ruling group of parties both times. In the 2014 general election, it won a clear majority in Parliament. Since 1991, a BJP member has been the Leader of the Opposition whenever the party was not in power.

BJP's Presence in States

As of June 2024, the BJP has Chief Ministers and leads governments in 13 states. Sometimes, these governments include allied parties. The 13 states are:

• Arunachal Pradesh
• Assam
• Chhattisgarh
• Goa
• Gujarat
• Haryana
• Madhya Pradesh
• Manipur
• Odisha
• Rajasthan
• Tripura
• Uttar Pradesh
• Uttarakhand

In 5 other states and in the union territory of Puducherry, the BJP is part of the government as a junior partner in the ruling alliance, along with other members of the National Democratic Alliance. These states are:

• Andhra Pradesh
• Bihar
• Maharashtra
• Meghalaya
• Nagaland
• Puducherry

The BJP has also held power in Karnataka, Delhi, and Jharkhand in the past. It has never held power in Kerala, Telangana, and West Bengal.

In addition to the NDA, the BJP is also part of a regional political alliance in Northeast India called the North-East Democratic Alliance.

Leaders of the Government from BJP

Prime Ministers from BJP

No.	Portrait	Prime Minister	Constituency	Time in Office			Lok Sabha	Cabinet
				Start	End	Length
1		Atal Bihari Vajpayee	Lucknow	16 May 1996	1 June 1996	16 days	11th	Vajpayee I
				19 March 1998	22 May 2004	6 years, 64 days	12th	Vajpayee II
							13th	Vajpayee III
2		Narendra Modi	Varanasi	26 May 2014	Currently in Office	11 years, 17 days	16th	Modi I
							17th	Modi II
							18th	Modi III

Current Chief Ministers from BJP

As of June 11, 2024, 12 people from the Bharatiya Janata Party are currently serving as Chief Ministers.

Current Chief Ministers from the BJP

No.	State	Portrait	Name	Cabinet	Governing Coalition
1	Arunachal Pradesh		Pema Khandu	Khandu IV		BJP
						NPP
2	Assam		Himanta Biswa Sarma	Sarma		BJP
						AGP
						UPPL
3	Chhattisgarh		Vishnudeo Sai	Sai		BJP
4	Goa		Pramod Sawant	Sawant II		BJP
						MGP
						IND
5	Gujarat		Bhupendrabhai Patel	Patel II		BJP
6	Haryana		Nayab Singh Saini	Saini		BJP
						HLP
						IND
7	Madhya Pradesh		Mohan Yadav	Yadav		BJP
8	Manipur		N. Biren Singh	Singh II		BJP
						NPP
						NPF
						IND
9	Odisha		Mohan Charan Majhi	Majhi		BJP
10	Rajasthan		Bhajan Lal Sharma	Sharma		BJP
11	Tripura		Manik Saha	Saha II		BJP
						IPFT
12	Uttar Pradesh		Yogi Adityanath	Adityanath II		BJP
						AD(S)
						NP
13	Uttarakhand		Pushkar Singh Dhami	Dhami II		BJP

Images for kids

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  The lotus flower is the symbol of the BJP.

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  The official logo of the BJP.

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  The flag of the Bharatiya Janata Party.