India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 6 April 2022 completed 42 years in the Indian Political arena. The BJP was founded on 6 April 1980 under the joint leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani. However, the roots of the BJP lies in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh or Jana Sangh, founded by Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951. From 2 seats in 1984 to 303 seats in 2019, BJP’s journey can be easily termed 'spectacular'. Here we bring 10 key facts about the Bharatiya Janta Party. Top 10 Facts about BJP.
The ideology of the Bharatiya Janta Party is linked to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which propagates the concept of cultural nationalism. BJP follows a core philosophy of ‘Integral Humanism’.
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Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first president of the BJP who held that position from 1980-86. Under his leadership, the party could manage only 2 Lok Sabha seats in 1984 parliamentary elections. He was succeeded by Lal Krishna Advani.
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The BJP has formed a government at the centre five times. And Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first Prime Minister of India from the BJP. He became prime minister for three terms. In first term, his government lasted for just 13 days (1996). Vajpayee's second term lasted for 13 months (1998-99). During his third stint as PM, his government completed its full term (1999-2004).
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After three terms of Vajpayee, Narendra Modi became prime minister of India for two terms. Under Modi's leadership, the BJP won an absolute majority in Parliament after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with 282 seats. 2014 election was a milestone in India's political history as for the first time after 30 years, a political party got a majority on its own in the lower house of the Parliament. Modi created history after he retained power in 2019 general election with a bigger majority of 303 Lok Sabha seats.
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BJP is the largest political party of India, in terms of representation in Parliament as well as membership numbers. After 3 decades BJP becomes a party to have 100 MPs in Rajya Sabha.
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BJP’s election symbol is Lotus- a flower related to Hindu traditions. Issue of Ram Janmbhoomi, abrogation of Article 370 and implementation of Uniform Civil Code were the core issues of the party.
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There are many different wings of BJP-which includes BJP Mahila Morcha (Women’s Wing), BJP Kisan Morcha (Peasant’s Wing), BJP Minority Morcha (Minority Wing), and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (Youth wing).
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In 1998, the founding member of BJP, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government could not withstand the ‘no-confidence motion’ and eventually his government fell by 1 vote.
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