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BJP Full Form: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a major political party in India that supports pro-Hindu ideas. It is popular in northern India and among higher castes. The party has also tried to include lower castes by giving them important roles. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a majority in the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
BJP Full Form
The full form of BJP is Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of India’s two main political parties, alongside the Indian National Congress. The BJP was officially established in 1980 and is known for its ideology of nationalism and cultural values. The party follows the idea of “Integral Humanism” and supports the belief system called Hindutva.
Key Founders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) traces its roots to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was formed in 1951 by Syama Prasad Mukherjee. He started the party as an alternative to the Indian National Congress, which dominated the politics of that time. The Jana Sangh was closely connected with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group, and was often seen as its political wing.
The party aimed to promote Hindu cultural values and opposed what it saw as the Congress’s soft approach toward Muslims and Pakistan. Several key RSS members, like Deendayal Upadhyaya, helped build the party in its early days. In the first general elections in 1952, the Jana Sangh won just three seats and remained a small party in parliament until 1967.
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What is the Core Mission of BJP?
The BJP supported the idea of Hindutva, which means promoting Indian culture based on Hindu values. The party strongly criticized the Indian National Congress for its secular approach. In 1989, the BJP gained popularity by demanding the construction of a Hindu temple in Ayodhya, at the site of the Babri Masjid, which Hindus believe is the birthplace of Lord Rama.
By 1991, the BJP had made major political gains, winning 117 seats in the Lok Sabha and forming governments in four states. However, in December 1992, the demolition of the Babri Masjid by groups linked to the BJP led to nationwide violence and over 1,000 deaths. This event created fear and distrust among those who supported secularism.
BJP Ideology and Beliefs – Core Principles and Political Stand
Deendayal Upadhyaya introduced this philosophy in 1965. This idea focuses on an Indian way of development where the human being is at the center of all progress. It promotes an economy and lifestyle that suits Indian culture and values. The ideology was against following Western models.
The party also believes in the idea of Hindutva, which was the vision of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The BJP says Hindutva means cultural nationalism, loving and respecting Indian traditions and way of life. However, many experts and political thinkers believe that Hindutva is often used to promote India as a Hindu nation. Therefore, they consider the BJP a Hindu nationalist party because of that.
The BJP formed the NDA by joining hands with several other parties in 1998. These parties came from different backgrounds and had a variety of political views.
The BJP’s Hindutva beliefs have influenced many of its key policies. For example, the party has long supported the building of the Ram Mandir at the site where the Babri Masjid once stood. This was a big part of their campaign in the 1991 elections. However, after the Babri Masjid was demolished during a BJP-led rally in 1992, the party faced strong criticism. After that, the Ram Mandir issue became less important in their official agenda for some time.
When the BJP-led NDA government was in power, it changed the education system too. They reorganized NCERT and updated many school books. The government also added Hindu astrology as a college subject, even though many scientists opposed it.
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Electoral Alliances
The BJP became the largest party in the Lok Sabha and was invited to form the government in 1996. But it didn’t have enough support to stay in power and had to step down soon after.
The BJP and its allies formed a majority government, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister in 1998. That same year, India conducted nuclear tests under his leadership, which faced criticism from many countries. But the government didn’t last long, as one of its allies, AIADMK, left the coalition. Vajpayee lost a trust vote in Parliament by just one vote.
In 1999, the BJP led a group of over 20 parties called the NDA and won the elections again. The BJP got 182 seats, and Vajpayee became the Prime Minister once more. During this time, he worked on improving relations with Pakistan and helped grow India’s IT sector.
However, in the 2004 elections, the BJP-led NDA lost to the Congress-led UPA, and Vajpayee stepped down. In the 2009 elections, the BJP’s seats in the Lok Sabha dropped to 116, and the UPA won again.
Performance in Indian Lok Sabha Elections
The BJP was officially formed in 1980. It first contested the general elections in 1984 but managed to win only 2 seats. Over time, the party grew stronger.
By 1996, it became the largest party in the Lok Sabha but could not stay in power for long. In 1998 and 1999, the BJP again emerged as the largest party and led coalition governments.
In 2014, under Narendra Modi’s leadership, the BJP secured a clear majority in the Lok Sabha for the first time. The party repeated its success in 2019 with even more seats. However, in the 2024 elections, it lost some ground and had to form a coalition government to stay in power.
| Year of Election | Party Leader | Election Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Won 2 seats, remained in Opposition |
| 1989 | Lal Krishna Advani | Gained 85 seats, supported NF govt |
| 1991 | — | Became Official Opposition |
| 1996 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Formed short-lived govt, then Opposition |
| 1998 | — | Formed coalition government |
| 1999 | — | Continued coalition government |
| 2004 | Lal Krishna Advani | Lost power, became Opposition |
| 2009 | — | Continued in Opposition |
| 2014 | Narendra Modi | Won clear majority, formed govt |
| 2019 | Narendra Modi | Increased majority, retained govt |
| 2024 | Narendra Modi | Formed coalition govt |
BJP Full Form FAQs
When was the BJP formed?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was officially formed in 1980.
What does the BJP stand for?
The BJP promotes Hindutva and integral humanism, focusing on Indian cultural values and national unity.
Who is the current leader of the BJP?
Narendra Modi is the most prominent leader of the BJP and serves as the Prime Minister of India. The party president is J.P. Nadda.
When was BJP formed?
BJP was officially formed on 6 April 1980 after the split of the Janata Party.
Which organization is linked to BJP ideologically?
BJP is ideologically close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
