The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a political party in
India with a right-wing ideology. It was founded in 1980, with roots in the
Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a political party that was founded in 1951.
Initially, the BJP struggled to gain national support, but
it gained momentum in the 1980s by advocating for a strong national defense, a
more assertive foreign policy, and an emphasis on cultural nationalism. In the
late 1980s, the party started gaining popularity in North India by promoting
the issue of building a Ram temple in Ayodhya, a site considered sacred by
Hindus.
In 1991, the BJP won its first parliamentary seats, and in
1996, it became the largest party in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the
Indian Parliament) after the general elections. However, it could not form a
government as it did not have a majority.
In 1998, the BJP formed the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) with other parties and won the general election, forming a coalition
government with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister. The NDA was
re-elected in 1999 and served a full five-year term. During this time, the
government focused on economic liberalization, modernization of infrastructure,
and a more assertive foreign policy.
In 2004, the BJP lost the general election to the Indian
National Congress, and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
formed the government. The BJP continued to play a significant role in Indian
politics and remained the principal opposition party until the 2014 general
election.
In 2014, the BJP won a historic majority in the Lok Sabha,
and Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. The BJP-led National Democratic
Alliance returned to power in the 2019 general election, and Narendra Modi was
re-elected as the Prime Minister.
Since coming to power in 2014, the BJP has focused on
economic development, infrastructure development, and promoting a more
assertive foreign policy. The party has also faced criticism for its handling
of religious and social issues and for its alleged intolerance towards dissent.
