Title: Origin and Evolution of the Bharatiya Janata Party

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), now a prominent political party in India since the late 20th century, was formally established in April 1980. Its roots can be traced back to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), founded in 1951 by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, but the actual formation of the BJP was largely orchestrated by veterans like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani.

  1. Establishment of the BJP:

After the Janata Party, a conglomeration of various political parties including the BJS, came to power following the Emergency in 1977, it dissolved within three years due to political infighting and ideological differences. The former BJS members, along with their associates from the Janata Party who were affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), then regrouped to establish the BJP in 1980.

  1. Initial Years:

The BJP initially struggled to gain a footing in Indian politics. In the 1984 general elections, the party only managed to secure two seats in the Lok Sabha. However, the party went through a significant ideological and structural transformation under the leadership of L.K. Advani. Nationalistic and Hindu-centric themes began to dominate the party's agenda.

  1. March to Power:

The party grew steadily through the 1980s and early 1990s, buoyed by the Ayodhya issue and their sharp critique of the Congress's handling of various political and financial crises. The 1996 general elections saw the BJP emerge as the single largest party, marking the party's first true breakthrough on the national political scene.

  1. Years in Power:

Vajpayee became the Prime Minister for 13 days in 1996 but had to step down due to a lack of support from other parties. However, the BJP came back to power with a allied coalition in 1998 and Vajpayee again was sworn in as Prime Minister, this time for a full five-year term. This period witnessed the BJP making significant policy shifts, including the 1998 nuclear tests.

  1. Recent Developments:

After a decade in opposition following the 2004 defeat, the BJP returned to power in the 2014 general elections with a landslide victory led by Narendra Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate. The BJP's leadership under Modi and party President Amit Shah has been marked by vigorous domestic policy shifts and ambitious foreign policy.

In conclusion, the BJP's evolution from marginal player to major political force represents a significant shift in India's political landscape over the course of four decades.

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Pub: 25 Sep 2023 17:12 UTC
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