Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

 Introduction 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one of the major political parties in India. Founded in 1980, the party has become a dominant force in Indian politics, winning several state and national elections. The party's ideology is based on Hindu nationalism, cultural nationalism, and economic liberalism. With a strong leadership and a dedicated cadre of workers, BJP has risen to become one of the most influential political parties in India.

Ideology of Bharatiya Janata Party

BJP's ideology is based on three core principles: Hindu nationalism, cultural nationalism, and economic liberalism.

Hindu Nationalism

Hindu nationalism is the cornerstone of BJP's ideology. The party believes that India is a Hindu country, and Hindus are the true sons of the soil. BJP's leaders have often spoken about the need to protect Hindu culture and traditions from what they see as the threat of "foreign" religions such as Islam and Christianity.

Cultural Nationalism

Cultural nationalism is another important aspect of BJP's ideology. The party believes that India has a rich cultural heritage that needs to be protected and preserved. BJP has often been critical of Western cultural influences in India and has called for a return to traditional Indian values.

Economic Liberalism

Economic liberalism is the third pillar of BJP's ideology. The party believes in a free-market economy with minimal government intervention. BJP has often spoken about the need to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector.

The Rise of Bharatiya Janata Party

Formation of BJP

BJP was formed in 1980 as a result of the merger of the Janata Party and the Bharatiya Lok Dal. The new party was called the Bharatiya Janata Party, and it was led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Initial struggles and setbacks

In the early years, BJP struggled to gain electoral success. The party was seen as a fringe group, and its Hindu nationalist ideology was not widely accepted. It was only in the 1990s that BJP started to gain momentum.

Ram Janmabhoomi movement and its impact on BJP's rise

The Ram Janmabhoomi movement was a key turning point in BJP's rise. The movement was a campaign to build a temple in Ayodhya on the site where the Hindu god Ram was believed to have been born. BJP supported the movement, and it became a rallying point for Hindu nationalists. The movement led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, which was a mosque built on the same site. While the demolition was controversial, it helped to galvanize BJP's support base and propel the party to electoral success.

BJP's electoral successes in the 1990s

In the 1990s, BJP won several state elections and became a major political force in India. In 1998, BJP formed a government at the center for the first time, with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister.

Bharatiya Janata Party's Key Leaders

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of BJP's most prominent leaders. He was a skilled orator and a respected statesman. He was instrumental in shaping BJP's ideology and policies and played a key role in the party's rise to power.

L.K. Advani

L.K. Advani was another key leader of BJP. He was one of the architects of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and played a crucial role in BJP's rise. Advani was also known for his staunch Hindu nationalist ideology and his advocacy for a strong and assertive India.

Advani was born in Karachi in 1927 and migrated to India during the Partition of India in 1947. He began his political career in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent organization of BJP. Advani was a close associate of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which later merged with other parties to form the BJP.

Advani was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian parliament) for the first time in 1970. He served as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Janata Party government in 1977. However, the government was short-lived, and Advani returned to opposition politics.

Advani played a crucial role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which was aimed at constructing a temple at the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The mosque was built by the Mughal emperor Babur in the 16th century, and many Hindus believed that it was built on the site of an ancient Hindu temple. The movement led to a series of violent clashes between Hindus and Muslims and culminated in the demolition of the mosque by Hindu extremists in 1992.

Advani's "Rath Yatra" (chariot procession) in 1990, which was aimed at mobilizing support for the construction of the temple, was a major turning point in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The yatra was accompanied by widespread violence, and Advani was arrested by the government. However, the movement helped BJP to mobilize its Hindu nationalist base and consolidate its position as a major political force in India.

Advani served as the Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004 in the BJP-led government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, he was sidelined by the party leadership after the defeat of the BJP in the 2009 general elections. Advani had been critical of the leadership of Narendra Modi, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and had opposed his nomination as the party's prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 elections.

Despite his controversial role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and his hardline Hindu nationalist views, Advani was respected by many as a seasoned politician and a statesman. He was known for his eloquence and his ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. Advani retired from active politics in 2019 at the age of 92.

Advani's legacy in BJP is that of a leader who played a crucial role in its rise and consolidation as a major political force in India. He was a key figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which helped BJP to mobilize its Hindu nationalist base and emerge as a dominant force in Indian politics. Advani's contributions to BJP's ideology and policies have had a lasting impact on the party, and his legacy continues to shape its political agenda.