Bharatiya Janata Party: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

 

| abbreviation      = * BJP [in English] <br />

| president        = [[J. P. Nadda]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Jagat Prakash Nadda: BJP's new national president rises through the ranks, faces several challenges |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/jagat-prakash-nadda-bjps-new-national-president-rises-through-the-ranks-faces-several-challenges-2258301.html |access-date=16 March 2020 |work=Zee News |date=20 January 2020 |author=Ananya Das |archive-date=28 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328152910/https://zeenews.india.com/india/jagat-prakash-nadda-bjps-new-national-president-rises-through-the-ranks-faces-several-challenges-2258301.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

| general_secretary  = [[B. L. Santhosh]]<br />Shiv Prakash<ref>{{cite news |title=Meet BL Santhosh, newly appointed general secretary of BJP |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/meet-bl-santhosh-newly-appointed-general-secretary-of-bjp-1563168633822.html |access-date=16 March 2020 |work=live mint |date=15 July 2019 |author=Gyan Varma |archive-date=28 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328152911/https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/meet-bl-santhosh-newly-appointed-general-secretary-of-bjp-1563168633822.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

| treasurer = [[Rajesh Agarwal]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 September 2020|title=Rajesh Agarwal gets BJP treasurer post|work=United News of India|url=http://www.uniindia.com/rajesh-agarwal-gets-bjp-treasurer-post/north/news/2178686.html|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017113913/http://www.uniindia.com/rajesh-agarwal-gets-bjp-treasurer-post/north/news/2178686.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

| ppchairman        = [[Narendra Modi]]<br /> ([[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]])

| loksabha_leader  = [[Narendra Modi]]<br /> ([[Leader of the House in Lok Sabha]])<ref name=":3000">{{cite news |title=BJP announces new parliamentary committee; Modi leader in Lok Sabha, Rajnath his deputy |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-announces-parliamentary-party-executive-committee-1547512-2019-06-12 |access-date=16 March 2020 |work=India Today |date=12 June 2019 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406141325/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-announces-parliamentary-party-executive-committee-1547512-2019-06-12 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| rajyasabha_leader = [[Piyush Goyal]]<br /> ([[Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha]])

| foundation        = {{Start date and age|df=yes|p=y|1980|04|06}}<ref name=":4000">{{cite news |title=BJP's foundation day: Brief history of the achievements and failures of the party |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/bhartiya-janata-party-narendra-modi-bjp-bjps-37th-foundation-day-brief-history-of-the-achievements-and-failures-of-the-party-4601637/ |access-date=17 March 2020 |work=The Indian Express |date=6 April 2019 |archive-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511143721/https://indianexpress.com/article/research/bhartiya-janata-party-narendra-modi-bjp-bjps-37th-foundation-day-brief-history-of-the-achievements-and-failures-of-the-party-4601637/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

| founder          = {{ublist | [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] | [[L. K. Advani]]<ref name=":3001">{{cite news |title=What you need to know about India's BJP |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/india-bjp-190523053850803.html |access-date=16 March 2020 |work=AlJazeera |date=23 May 2019 |archive-date=13 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513075856/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/india-bjp-190523053850803.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

| headquarters      = 6-A, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, <br />[[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]], [[India]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-gets-a-new-address-today-pm-modi-to-inaugurate-multi-storey-office-1814043|title=BJP Gets A New Address; Soul Of New Office Is The Party Worker, Says PM Modi|website=NDTV.com|access-date=16 March 2020|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406141326/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-gets-a-new-address-today-pm-modi-to-inaugurate-multi-storey-office-1814043|url-status=live}}</ref>

| alliance          = [[National Democratic Alliance]]<br />([[India|All India]])<ref name="bjp0right">{{cite news |title=BJP + 29 Parties = National Democratic Alliance |url=https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/bjp-29-parties-national-democratic-alliance-562972 |access-date=17 March 2020 |work=NDTV |date=20 May 2014 |author=Devesh Kumar |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406141401/https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/bjp-29-parties-national-democratic-alliance-562972 |url-status=live }}</ref><br />

[[North-East Democratic Alliance]]<br />([[Northeast India]])<ref>{{cite news |title=BJP seals alliances in Northeast, aims 22 LS seats |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/bjp-seals-alliances-in-northeast-aims-22-ls-seats/article26519732.ece |access-date=17 March 2020 |work=The Hindu Business Line |date=13 March 2019 |archive-date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317165853/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/bjp-seals-alliances-in-northeast-aims-22-ls-seats/article26519732.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

| loksabha_seats    = {{Composition bar|301|543|hex={{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}}} ('''543''' MPs & '''0''' Vacant)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/Updates/EventLSS_637191127420791113_31994.pdf|title=Party Position pdf|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317173437/http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/Updates/EventLSS_637191127420791113_31994.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

| rajyasabha_seats  = {{Composition bar|93|245|hex={{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}}} ('''237''' MPs & '''8''' Vacant)<ref>{{cite web|title = Alphabetical Party Position in the Rajya Sabha|url = https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/member_site/partymemberlist.aspx|access-date = 22 September 2019|archive-date = 4 June 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190604121829/https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/member_site/partymemberlist.aspx|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.5/NewMembers/partystrength.aspx|title=Strengthwise Party Position in the Rajya Sabha|publisher=Rajya Sabha|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606134311/http://164.100.47.5/NewMembers/partystrength.aspx|archive-date=6 June 2017}}</ref><!-- Please do not change without a more up-to-date reference --><!-- Seats after Rajya Sabha election, 2020 -->

| state_seats      = {{Composition bar|1363|4036|hex={{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}}}

('''4025''' MLAs &

'''11''' Vacant)

([[#Current seats in State Legislative Assemblies|see complete list]])

| state2_seats      = {{Composition bar|165|426|hex={{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}}}

('''403''' MLCs & '''23''' Vacant)

([[#Current seats in State Legislative councils|see complete list]])

| no_states        = {{Composition bar|15|31|hex={{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}}} ('''28''' States and '''3''' UTs)<ref>{{cite news|title=BJP gains back Madhya Pradesh in just 15 months after losing it|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-s-shivraj-singh-chouhan-sworn-in-as-madhya-pradesh-cm-for-fourth-time-1658867-2020-03-23|work=India Today|date=26 November 2019|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119202332/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-s-shivraj-singh-chouhan-sworn-in-as-madhya-pradesh-cm-for-fourth-time-1658867-2020-03-23|url-status=live}}</ref><br />

| ideology          = {{ubl|class=nowrap|

|[[Conservatism]] ([[Conservatism in India|Indian]])<ref name="mathewjoh">* {{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Matthew |last2=Garnett |first2=Mark |last3=Walker |first3=David M |date=2017 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=smxQDwAAQBAJ&q=BJP+a+conservatism |title=Conservatism and Ideology |publisher=[[Routledge]] |pages=45–50 |isbn=978-1-317-52900-2 |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061245/https://books.google.com/books?id=smxQDwAAQBAJ&q=BJP+a+conservatism |url-status=live }}

* {{cite journal |last1=Mazumdar |first1=Surajit |date=2017 |title=Neo-Liberalism and the Rise of Right-Wing Conservatism in India |url=https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/id/eprint/93182 |publisher=[[Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich]] |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=115–131 |doi= |access-date=24 April 2022 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061248/https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/93182/ |url-status=live }}

* {{cite book|title=Ideology and Identity: The Changing Party Systems of India|last1=Chhibber|first1=Pradeep. K.|last2=Verma|first2=Rahul|isbn=978-0-190-62390-6|lccn=2018001733|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJRqDwAAQBAJ|pages=50–150|year=2018|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|access-date=2 May 2022|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061225/https://books.google.com/books?id=nJRqDwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

|[[Hindu nationalism]]<ref>

* Henrik Berglund. "Religion and Nationalism: Politics of BJP." [[Economic and Political Weekly]] 39, no. 10 (2004): 1064–70. {{JSTOR|4414737}}.

* Chhibber, Pradeep K. "State Policy, Party Politics, and the Rise of the BJP." In Democracy without Associations: Transformation of the Party System and Social Cleavages in India, 159–76. [[University of Michigan Press]], 1999. {{JSTOR|10.3998/mpub.23136.12}}.</ref>

|[[Hindutva]]<ref name="Angana.p">* {{cite book |last1=Chatterji |first1=Angana P. |last2=Hansen |first2=Thomas Blom |last3=Jaffrelot |first3=Christophe |date=2019 |title=Majoritarian State: How Hindu Nationalism Is Changing India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcObDwAAQBAJ&q=BJP%27s+Hindutva+ideology |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |pages=100–130 |isbn=978-0-19-007817-1 |author-link1=Angana P. Chatterji |author-link2=Thomas Blom Hansen |author-link3=Christophe Jaffrelot |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061226/https://books.google.com/books?id=zcObDwAAQBAJ&q=BJP%27s+Hindutva+ideology |url-status=live }}

* [[Christophe Jaffrelot|Jaffrelot, Christophe]], and Cynthia Schoch. "Conclusion to Part I." In Modi's India: Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy, 148–54. [[Princeton University Press]], 2021. {{doi|10.2307/j.ctv1dc9jzx.12}}.

* {{cite book|title=Ideology and Identity: The Changing Party Systems of India|author=Chhibber, Pradeep K. and Verma, Rahul|isbn=978-0-190-62390-6|lccn=2018001733|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJRqDwAAQBAJ|year=2018|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|access-date=2 May 2022|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061225/https://books.google.com/books?id=nJRqDwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

|[[Neoliberalism]]<ref name="Surajit 2017">* {{Cite book|last=Mazumdar|first=Surajit|title=Neo-Liberalism and the Rise of Right-Wing Conservatism in India|publisher=University Library of Munich|year=2017|location=Germany}}

* {{cite journal |last1=Gopalakrishnan |first1=Shankar |title=Defining, Constructing and Policing a 'New India': Relationship between Neoliberalism and Hindutva |journal=Economic & Political Weekly |date=7 July 2006 |volume=41 |issue=26 |pages=2803–2813 |jstor=4418408 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4418408 |access-date=26 September 2020 |archive-date=17 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017234207/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4418408 |url-status=live }}

* {{cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=Kalpana |last2=Ung Loh |first2=Jennifer |last3=Purewal |first3=Navtej |title=Gender, Violence and the Neoliberal State in India |journal=Feminist Review |date=July 2018 |volume=119 |issue=1 |pages=1–6 |doi=10.1057/s41305-018-0109-8 |s2cid=149814002 |url=https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/25540/1/wilson-ung-loh-purewal-introduction-gender-violence-and-the-neoliberal-state-in-India.doc.pdf |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=10 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210111943/https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/25540/1/wilson-ung-loh-purewal-introduction-gender-violence-and-the-neoliberal-state-in-India.doc.pdf |url-status=live }}

* {{cite journal |last1=Mathur |first1=Navdeep |title=The low politics of higher education: saffron branded neoliberalism and the assault on Indian universities |journal=Critical Policy Studies |date=2018 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=121–125 |doi=10.1080/19460171.2017.1403343|s2cid=148842457 }}</ref>

|[[Right-wing populism]]<ref>

* {{cite journal|volume=26|issue=3|journal=Democratization|first1=Duncan|last1=McDonnell|year=2019|first2=Luis|last2=Cabrera|title=The right-wing populism of India's Bharatiya Janata Party (and why comparativists should care)|pages=484–501|doi=10.1080/13510347.2018.1551885|s2cid=149464986}}

* {{cite book|publisher=Koç University|title=Right-wing Populist Governments Rhetorical Framing of Economic Inequality : the Cases of BJP in India and AKP in Turkey|year=2019|first=Ezgi|last=Özçelik}}</ref>

|[[Integral humanism (India)|Integral humanism]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Matthew |last2=Garnett |first2=Mark |last3=Walker |first3=David M |date=2017 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=smxQDwAAQBAJ&q=BJP+a+conservatism |title=Conservatism and Ideology |publisher=[[Routledge]] |pages=45–50 |isbn=978-1-317-52900-2 |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061245/https://books.google.com/books?id=smxQDwAAQBAJ&q=BJP+a+conservatism |url-status=live }}</ref>

| website          = {{URL|bjp.org}}

| predecessor      = [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]<br>(1951–1977)<ref name=":4000" /><br>[[Janata Party]]<br>(1977–1980)<ref name=":4000" />

|labour            = [[Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Need to Know BJP-led BMS is biggest labour union in India |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/ohkSVkDnWYnxvZyuzggTsL/Need-to-Know--BJPled-BMS-is-biggest-labour-union-in-India.html |access-date=17 March 2020 |work=live mint |date=15 January 2008 |author=Pragya Singh |archive-date=3 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103131425/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/ohkSVkDnWYnxvZyuzggTsL/Need-to-Know--BJPled-BMS-is-biggest-labour-union-in-India.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

| international    = [[International Democrat Union]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/02/indias-bharatiya-janata-party-joins-union-of-international-conservative-parties|title=India's Bharatiya Janata Party Joins Union of International Conservative Parties&nbsp;— The Diplomat|first=Akhilesh|last=Pillalamarri|work=The Diplomat|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228053454/https://thediplomat.com/2016/02/indias-bharatiya-janata-party-joins-union-of-international-conservative-parties/|archive-date=28 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Members|url = https://www.idu.org/members/|publisher = [[International Democrat Union]]|access-date = 25 September 2019|website = idu.org|archive-date = 23 April 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180423165945/https://www.idu.org/members/|url-status = live}}</ref><br />[[Asia Pacific Democrat Union]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://idu.org/asia-pacific-democrat-union-apdu/|title=International Democrat Union » Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU)|work=International Democrat Union|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616235358/http://idu.org/asia-pacific-democrat-union-apdu/|archive-date=16 June 2017|access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref>

| colours          = {{colour box|{{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}}} [[Saffron (color)|Saffron]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Iwanek|first=Krzysztof|date=10 September 2018|title=Paint It Saffron: The Colors of Indian Political Parties|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/paint-it-saffron-the-colors-of-indian-political-parties/|access-date=5 July 2021|publisher=[[The Diplomat]]|language=en-US|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623014149/https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/paint-it-saffron-the-colors-of-indian-political-parties/|url-status=live}}</ref>

| symbol = Lotus<br />[[File:Lotos flower symbol.svg|100px]]

|leader=|Political position=[[Right-wing politics|Right wing]]<ref

name="bjp0right" /> to [[Far-right politics|far-right]]<ref>{{cite news

}}</ref>|peasants=[[Bharatiya Kisan Sangh]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Gupta|first=Sejuta Das|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mQiKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA172|pages=172–173|title=Class, Politics, and Agricultural Policies in Post-liberalisation India|isbn=978-1-108-41628-3|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=2019e|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061257/https://books.google.com/books?id=mQiKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA172|url-status=live}}</ref>

}}

The '''Bharatiya Janata Party''' ('''BJP'''; {{translation|Indian People's Party}}) is a political party in [[India]], and one of the two major [[List of political parties in India|Indian political parties]] alongside the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/-In-Numbers-The-Rise-of-BJP-and-decline-of-Congress/articleshow/52341190.cms|title=In Numbers: The Rise of BJP and decline of Congress|work=The Times of India|date=19 May 2016|access-date=29 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105170102/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/-In-Numbers-The-Rise-of-BJP-and-decline-of-Congress/articleshow/52341190.cms|archive-date=5 November 2017}}</ref> Since 2014, it has been the [[List of ruling political parties by country|ruling political party in India]] under [[Narendra Modi]], the incumbent [[Prime Minister of India|Indian prime minister]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news|date=25 May 2019|title=Lok Sabha Election results 2019: EC declares results of all 542 seats, BJP wins 303|work=Zee News|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/live-updates/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-updates-bjp-narendra-modi-nda-2205806|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-date=2 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602032641/https://zeenews.india.com/india/live-updates/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-updates-bjp-narendra-modi-nda-2205806|url-status=live}}</ref> The BJP is aligned with [[right-wing politics]], and its policies adhere to [[Hindutva]], a [[Hindu nationalist]] ideology.{{sfn|Banerjee|2005|p=3118}}{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|p=318}} It has close ideological and organisational links to the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS).<ref>{{cite news|date=17 March 2019|title=Men, machinery and mind of RSS behind BJP's poll power punch|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/men-machinery-and-mind-of-rss-behind-bjp-s-poll-power-punch-119031700304_1.html|access-date=18 March 2020|archive-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328152912/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/men-machinery-and-mind-of-rss-behind-bjp-s-poll-power-punch-119031700304_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2023|3}}, it is the country's biggest political party in terms of representation in the [[Parliament of India]] as well as [[State legislature (India)|state legislatures]].

 

The party's origins lie in the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]], which was founded in 1951 by Indian politician [[Syama Prasad Mukherjee|Shyama Prasad Mukherjee]].{{sfn|Swain|2001|p=60}} After [[The Emergency (India)|The Emergency]] of 1975–1977, the Jana Sangh merged with several other political parties to form the [[Janata Party]]; it defeated the then-incumbent Indian National Congress in the [[1977 Indian general election|1977 general election]]. After three years in power, the Janata Party dissolved in 1980, with the members of the erstwhile Jana Sangh reconvening to form the modern-day BJP. Although initially unsuccessful—winning only two seats in the [[1984 Indian general election|1984 general election]], it grew in strength on the back of the movement around [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. Following victories in several state elections and better performances in national elections, the BJP became the largest political party in the Parliament in 1996; however, it lacked a majority in the lower house of Parliament, and its government, under its then-leader [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]], lasted for only 13 days.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=633}}

After the [[1998 Indian general election|1998 general election]], the BJP-led coalition known as the [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) under prime minister Vajpayee formed a government that lasted for a year. Following fresh elections, the NDA government—again headed by Vajpayee—lasted for a full term in office; this was the first non-Congress government to do so. In the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 general election]], the NDA suffered an unexpected defeat, and for the next ten years, the BJP was the principal opposition party. Narendra Modi, then the [[List of chief ministers of Gujarat|chief minister of Gujarat]], led the party to a landslide victory in the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 general election]]. Modi has since led the NDA government as Indian prime minister, including being re-elected in the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general election]]. {{As of|2023|06}}, the alliance governs 15 Indian states and union territories.

The official ideology of the BJP is [[Integral humanism (India)|integral humanism]], first formulated by [[Deendayal Upadhyaya]] in 1965. The party advocates [[social conservatism]] and a foreign policy centred on nationalist principles. During its first period in national government, the BJP avoided its Hindu-nationalist priorities, and focused on a largely [[Economic liberalisation in India|liberal economic policy]] that prioritised [[Globalization in India|globalisation]] and [[Economy of India|economic growth]] over [[Social security in India|social welfare]].{{sfn|Sen|2005|pp=251–272}} Since returning to government in 2014, the BJP government has enacted several priorities of the RSS, including criminalising the practice of [[Triple talaq in India|triple talaq]], and revoking [[Article 370]] of the Indian constitution, which granted autonomy to [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], and also [[The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019|abrogating its statehood]].<ref name="Bhatty Sundar pp. 632–650">{{cite journal | last1=Bhatty | first1=Kiran | last2=Sundar | first2=Nandini | title=Sliding from majoritarianism toward fascism: Educating India under the Modi regime | journal=International Sociology | publisher=SAGE Publications | volume=35 | issue=6 | date=17 September 2020 | issn=0268-5809 | doi=10.1177/0268580920937226 | pages=632–650| s2cid=224896271 }}</ref> India has experienced nationwide [[Democratic backsliding by country#India|democratic backsliding]] under the [[Premiership of Narendra Modi|BJP's rule since 2014]].<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/b6/55/b6553f85-5c5d-45ec-be63-a48a2abe3f62/briefing_paper_9.pdf|last1=Hindle|first1=Garry|last2=Lindberg|first2=Staffan|publisher=V-Dem Institute|date=2020|title=New Global Data on Political Parties: V-Party|access-date=9 October 2021|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024234004/https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/b6/55/b6553f85-5c5d-45ec-be63-a48a2abe3f62/briefing_paper_9.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto1">Nazifa Alizada, Rowan Cole, Lisa Gastaldi, Sandra Grahn, Sebastian Hellmeier, Palina Kolvani, Jean Lachapelle, Anna Lührmann, Seraphine F. Maerz, Shreeya Pillai, and Staffan I. Lindberg. 2021. Autocratization Turns Viral. Democracy Report 2021. University of Gothenburg: V-Dem Institute. https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/74/8c/748c68ad-f224-4cd7-87f9-8794add5c60f/dr_2021_updated.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914030243/https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/74/8c/748c68ad-f224-4cd7-87f9-8794add5c60f/dr_2021_updated.pdf |date=14 September 2021 }}</ref>

| image1    = Shyama_Prasad_Mukherjee_portrait_in_Parliament.jpg

| image2    = Atal Bihari Vajpayee tribute image (cropped).jpg

The Jana Sangh's first major campaign, begun in early 1953, centred on a demand for the complete integration of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] into India.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=250}} Mukherjee was arrested in May 1953 for violating orders from the state government restraining him from entering Kashmir. He died of a heart attack the following month, while still in jail.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=250}} [[Mauli Chandra Sharma]] was elected to succeed Mukherjee; however, he was forced out of power by the RSS activists within the party, and the leadership went instead to Upadhyaya. Upadhyay remained the General Secretary until 1967, and worked to build a committed grassroots organisation in the image of the RSS. The party minimised engagement with the public, focusing instead on building its network of propagandists. Upadhyaya also articulated the philosophy of [[Integral humanism (India)|integral humanism]], which formed the official doctrine of the party.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|1996|pp=122–126, 129–130}} Younger leaders, such as [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and [[L. K. Advani|Lal Krishna Advani]] also became involved with the leadership in this period, with Vajpayee succeeding Upadhyaya as president in 1968. The major themes on the party's agenda during this period were legislating a [[Uniform civil code of India|uniform civil code]], banning [[cow slaughter]] and abolishing the [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India|special status given to Jammu and Kashmir]].{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=250, 352, 413}}

In 1975, Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] imposed a [[The Emergency (India)|state of emergency]]. The Jana Sangh took part in the widespread protests, with thousands of its members being imprisoned along with other agitators across the country. In 1977, the emergency was withdrawn and general elections were held. The Jana Sangh merged with parties from across the political spectrum, including the [[Socialist Party (India)|Socialist Party]], the [[Congress (O)]] and the [[Bharatiya Lok Dal]] to form the Janata Party, with its main agenda being defeating Indira Gandhi.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=136}} The Janata Party won a majority in 1977 and formed a government with [[Morarji Desai]] as Prime Minister. The former Jana Sangh contributed the largest tally to the Janata Party's parliamentary contingent, with 93 seats or 31% of its strength. [[Atal Behari Vajpayee|Vajpayee]], previously the leader of the Jana Sangh, was appointed the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]].{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=538–540}}

The national leadership of the former Jana Sangh consciously renounced its identity, and attempted to integrate with the political culture of the Janata Party, based on Gandhian and Hindu traditionalist principles. Political scientist [[Christophe Jaffrelot]] wrote that this proved to be impossible assimilation.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|1996|pp=282–283}} The state and local levels of the Jana Sangh remained relatively unchanged, retaining a strong association with the RSS, which did not sit well with the moderate centre-right constituents of the Party.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|1996|pp=292–301, 312}} [[Communal violence in India|Violence between Hindus and Muslims]] increased sharply during the years that the Janata Party formed the government, with former Jana Sangha members being implicated in the riots in [[Aligarh]] and [[Jamshedpur]] in 1978–79. The other major constituents of the Janata Party demanded that the Jana Sangh should break from the RSS, which the Jana Sangh refused to do. Eventually, a fragment of the Janata Party broke off to form the [[Janata Party (Secular)]]. The [[Premiership of Morarji Desai|Morarji Desai government]] was reduced to a minority in the Parliament, forcing its resignation. Following a brief period of coalition rule, general elections were held in 1980, in which the Janata Party fared poorly, winning only 31 seats. In April 1980, shortly after the elections, the National Executive Council of the Janata Party banned its members from being 'dual members' of party and the RSS. In response, the former Jana Sangh members left to create a new political party, known as the Bharatiya Janata Party.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|1996|pp=301–312}}{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=538–540}}

Although the newly formed BJP was technically distinct from the Jana Sangh, the bulk of its rank and file were identical to its predecessor, with Vajpayee being its first president.<ref>{{cite web|date=7 April 2020|orig-year=7 April 1980|title=Forty years ago, April 7, 1980: BJP is born|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/forty-years-ago-april-7-1980-bjp-is-born-6350456/|access-date=12 April 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412160225/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/forty-years-ago-april-7-1980-bjp-is-born-6350456/|url-status=live}}</ref> Historian [[Ramachandra Guha]] writes that the early 1980s were marked by a wave of violence between Hindus and Muslims. The BJP initially moderated the [[Hindu nationalist]] stance of its predecessor the Jana Sangh to gain a wider appeal, emphasising its links to the Janata Party and the ideology of [[Gandhian Socialism]].{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}} This was unsuccessful, as it won only two [[Lok Sabha]] seats in the [[1984 Indian general election|elections of 1984]].{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}} The [[assassination of Indira Gandhi]] a few months earlier resulted in a wave of support for the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] which won a record tally of 403 seats, contributing to the low number for the BJP.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=579}}

In September 1990, Advani began a ''[[rath yatra]]'' (chariot journey) to Ayodhya in support of the Ram temple movement. According to Guha, the imagery employed by the ''yatra'' was "religious, allusive, militant, masculine, and anti-Muslim".{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=635}} Advani was placed under preventive detention on the orders of the then [[Bihar]] chief minister [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]. A large number of ''[[kar sevak]]s'' (religious volunteers) nonetheless converged at Ayodhya, and some attacked the mosque. Three days of fighting with the paramilitary forces ended with the deaths of several ''kar sevaks''. Hindus were urged by VHP to "take revenge" for these deaths, resulting in riots against Muslims across Uttar Pradesh. {{sfn|Guha|2007|p=636}} The BJP withdrew its support from the V.P. Singh government, leading to fresh general elections. The BJP further increased its tally to 120 seats, and won a majority in the [[Uttar Pradesh]] assembly.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}}

On 6 December 1992, the RSS and its affiliates organised a rally involving more than 100,000 VHP and BJP activists at the site of the mosque.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}} The rally developed into a frenzied attack that ended with the [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|demolition of the mosque]].{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}} Over the following weeks, waves of violence between Hindus and Muslims erupted all over the country, killing over 2,000 people.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}} The government briefly banned the VHP, and many BJP leaders, including Advani were arrested for making inflammatory speeches provoking the demolition.{{sfn|NDTV|2012}}{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2009}} Several historians have said that the demolition was the product of a conspiracy by the Sangh Parivar, and not a spontaneous act.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}} In the parliamentary elections in 1996, the BJP capitalised on the communal polarisation that followed the demolition to win 161 Lok Sabha seats, making it the largest party in parliament.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=633}} Vajpayee was sworn in as Prime Minister but was unable to attain a majority in the Lok Sabha, forcing the government to resign after 13 days.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=633}}

A [[Liberhan Commission|2009 report]], authored by Justice [[Manmohan Singh Liberhan]], found that 68 people were responsible for the demolition, mostly leaders from the BJP.{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2009}} Among those named were Vajpayee, Advani, and [[Murli Manohar Joshi]]. The report also criticised [[Kalyan Singh]], Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh during the demolition.{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2009}} He was accused of posting bureaucrats and police officers who would stay silent during the demolition.{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2009}} In 2020, the [[Supreme Court of India]] acquitted all of the accused in the demolition including Advani and Joshi.<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 September 2020|title=All acquitted in Babri Masjid demolition case {{!}} Advani, MM Joshi hail verdict, Congress wants govt to appeal against it|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdict/article32728552.ece|access-date=12 April 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412195725/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdict/article32728552.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== NDA government (1998, 1999 - 2004) ====

A coalition of regional parties formed the government in 1996, but this grouping was short-lived, and mid-term polls were held in 1998. The BJP contested the elections leading a coalition called the [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), which contained its existing allies like the [[Samata Party]], the [[Shiromani Akali Dal]], the [[Shiv Sena]] in addition to the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) and the [[Biju Janata Dal]]. Among these regional parties, the Shiv Sena was the only one that had an ideology similar to the BJP; [[Amartya Sen]], for example, called the coalition an "ad hoc" grouping.{{sfn|Sen|2005|p=254}} The NDA had a majority with outside support from the [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) and Vajpayee returned as Prime Minister.{{sfn|rediff.com|1998}} However, the coalition ruptured in May 1999 when the leader of AIADMK, [[Jayalalitha]], withdrew her support, and fresh elections were held again.{{sfn|Outlook|2013}}

On 13 October 1999, the NDA, without the AIADMK, won 303 seats in parliament and thus an outright majority. The BJP had its highest ever tally of 183. Vajpayee became Prime Minister for the third time; Advani became Deputy Prime Minister{{efn|in 2002}} and [[Minister for Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]]. This NDA government lasted its full term of five years. Its policy agenda included a more aggressive stance on defence and terror as well as [[neo-liberalism|neo-liberal]] economic policies.{{sfn|Sen|2005|pp=251–272}} In 2001, [[Bangaru Laxman]], then the BJP president, was filmed accepting a bribe in [[Operation West End|a sting operation]].{{sfn|Kattakayam|2012}}{{sfn|India Today|2001}} He was compelled to resign and was subsequently prosecuted, eventually being sentenced to four years in prison.{{sfn|Tehelka|2001}}

On 27 February 2002, a [[Godhra train burning|train carrying Hindu pilgrims was burned]] outside the town of [[Godhra]], killing 59 people. The incident was seen as an attack upon Hindus, and sparked off massive anti-Muslim violence across the state of [[Gujarat]] that lasted several weeks.{{sfn|Ghassem-Fachandi|2012|pp=1–31}} The death toll estimated was as high as 2000, while 150,000 were displaced.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|2013|p=16}} Rape, mutilation, and torture were also widespread.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|2013|p=16}}{{sfn|Harris|2012}} The then-Gujarat chief minister [[Narendra Modi]] and several high-ranking government officials were accused of initiating and condoning the violence, as were police officers who allegedly directed the rioters and gave them lists of Muslim-owned properties.{{sfn|Krishnan|2012}} In April 2009, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate and expedite the Gujarat riots cases. In 2012, Modi was cleared of complicity in the violence by the SIT. BJP [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] [[Maya Kodnani]], who later held a cabinet portfolio in the Modi government, was convicted of having orchestrated one of the riots and sentenced to 28 years imprisonment;{{sfn|Hindustan Times|2014}}{{sfn|NDTV.com|2012}} she was later acquitted by the [[Gujarat High Court]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/naroda-patiya-case-gujarat-hc-acquits-maya-kodnani-upholds-babu-bajrangi-s-conviction-1216228-2018-04-20|title=Naroda Patiya verdict: Gujarat HC acquits Maya Kodnani, commutes Babu Bajrangi's sentence|work=India Today|date=20 April 2018|access-date=6 June 2018|archive-date=29 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229064652/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/naroda-patiya-case-gujarat-hc-acquits-maya-kodnani-upholds-babu-bajrangi-s-conviction-1216228-2018-04-20|url-status=live}}</ref> Scholars such as [[Paul Brass]], [[Martha Nussbaum]] and [[Dipankar Gupta]] have said that there was a high level of state complicity in the incidents.{{sfn|Brass|2005|pp=385–393}}{{sfn|Gupta|2011|p=252}}{{sfn|Nussbaum|2008|p=2}}

| image1    = PM Modi 2015.jpg

| caption1  = [[Narendra Modi]], Prime Minister of India since 2014

| caption2  = [[Amit Shah]] has been the longest (continuous) served [[List of presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party|National President]] of the BJP

In the [[2014 Indian general election]], the BJP won 282 seats, leading the NDA to a tally of 336 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha.{{sfn|Mathew|2014}} Narendra Modi was sworn in as the 14th [[Prime Minister of India]] on 26 May 2014.{{sfn|Deccan Chronicle|2014}}{{sfn|BBC|May|2014}} The vote share of the BJP was 31% of all votes cast, a low figure relative to the number of seats it won.{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}} This was the first instance since 1984 of a single party achieving an outright majority in the Indian Parliament{{sfn|Times of India|2014}} and the first time that it achieved a majority in the Lok Sabha on its own strength. Support was concentrated in the [[Hindi Belt|Hindi-speaking belt]] in North-central India.{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}} The magnitude of the victory was not predicted by most opinion and exit polls.{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}}

In 2019, the BJP won the general election with a majority. Soon after coming to power, on 5 August 2019, the [[Second Modi ministry|Modi administration]] revoked the special status, or [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India#Autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir: Structure and limitations|limited autonomy]], granted under [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India|Article 370]] of the [[Constitution of India|Indian Constitution]] to [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]—a region administered by [[India]] as a state and this states consists of the larger part of Kashmir which has been the subject of dispute among India, [[Pakistan]], and [[China]] since 1947.<ref name="britannica-jammu-kashmir">{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Akhtar|first1=Rais|last2=Kirk|first2=William|title=Jammu and Kashmir, State, India|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Jammu-and-Kashmir|access-date=7 August 2019|url-access=subscription|quote=Jammu and Kashmir, state of India, located in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent in the vicinity of the Karakoram and westernmost Himalayan mountain ranges. The state is part of the larger region of Kashmir, which has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947.|archive-date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820091609/https://www.britannica.com/place/Jammu-and-Kashmir|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Jan·OsmanczykOsmańczyk2003">{{cite book|last=Osmańczyk|first=Edmund Jan|author-link=Edmund Osmańczyk|editor-last=Mango|editor-first=Anthony|title=Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements|volume=2: G–M|chapter=Jammu and Kashmir.|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSIMXHMdfkkC&pg=PA1189|year=2003|edition=3rd|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-93922-5|page=1189|quote=Territory in northwestern India, subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China.|access-date=16 June 2020|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061302/https://books.google.com/books?id=fSIMXHMdfkkC&pg=PA1189|url-status=live}}</ref>

The official philosophy of the BJP is "[[Integral humanism (India)|Integral humanism]]," a philosophy first formulated by [[Deendayal Upadhyaya]] in 1965, who described it as advocating an "indigenous economic model that puts the human being at center stage."{{sfn|Hansen|1999|p=85}}{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}} It is committed to [[Hindutva]], an ideology articulated by [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]] activist [[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]]. According to the party, Hindutva is cultural nationalism favouring Indian culture over [[westernisation]], thus it extends to all Indians regardless of religion.{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}} Scholars and political analysts describe Hindutva as seeking to redefine India and recast it as a Hindu country to the exclusion of other religions, making the BJP a Hindu nationalist party in a general sense.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}}{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}}{{sfn|Seshia|1998|pp=1036–1050}}{{sfn|Gillan|2002|pp=73–95}} The BJP moderated its stance after the NDA was formed in 1998, due to the presence of parties with a broader set of ideologies.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}}{{sfn|Sen|2005|pp=251–272}}

 

The BJP's Hindutva ideology has been reflected in many of its government policies. It supports the construction of the [[Ram Temple, Ayodhya|Ram Temple]] at the [[Ayodhya dispute|disputed site]] of the [[Babri Masjid|Babri Mosque]].{{sfn|Seshia|1998|pp=1036–1050}} This issue was its major poll plank in the 1991 general elections.{{sfn|Seshia|1998|pp=1036–1050}} However, the [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|demolition of the mosque]] during a BJP rally in 1992 resulted in a backlash against it, leading to a decline of the temple's prominence in its agenda.{{sfn|Seshia|1998|pp=1036–1050}} The education policy of the NDA government reorganised the [[National Council of Educational Research and Training]] (NCERT) and tasked it with extensively revising the textbooks used in Indian schools.{{sfn|Sen|2005|p=63}} Various scholars have stated that this revision, especially in the case of history textbooks, was a covert attempt to "[[Saffronisation|saffronise]]" Indian history.{{sfn|Sen|2005|p=63}}{{sfn|International Religious Freedom Report|2005}}{{sfn|The Hindu|2002}}{{sfn|Davies|2005}} The NDA government introduced [[Vedic astrology]] as a subject in college curricula, despite opposition from several leading scientists.{{sfn|BBC|January|2014}}

Links between the BJP and the RSS grew stronger under the Modi administration. The RSS provided organisational support to the BJP's electoral campaigns, while the Modi administration appointed a number of individuals affiliated with the RSS to prominent government positions.<ref name="Orange Evolution">{{cite news|date=2 March 2019|title=Narendra Modi and the struggle for India's soul|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2019/03/02/narendra-modi-and-the-struggle-for-indias-soul|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301125100/https://www.economist.com/briefing/2019/03/02/narendra-modi-and-the-struggle-for-indias-soul|archive-date=1 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, [[Yellapragada Sudershan Rao]], who had previously been associated with the RSS, became the chairperson of the [[Indian Council of Historical Research]] (ICHR).<ref name="Ganguly 2014">{{cite journal|last1=Ganguly|first1=Sumit|s2cid=154421269|title=India's Watershed Vote: The Risks Ahead|journal=[[Journal of Democracy]]|date=October 2014|volume=25|issue=4|pages=56–60|doi=10.1353/jod.2014.0077|url=https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/0d1972096ec288e4b0c58679a16bf66172fdb31e|access-date=30 August 2021|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061306/https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/India's-Watershed-Vote%3A-The-Risks-Ahead-Ganguly/0d1972096ec288e4b0c58679a16bf66172fdb31e|url-status=live}}</ref> Historians and former members of the ICHR, including those sympathetic to the BJP, questioned his credentials as a historian, and stated that the appointment was part of an agenda of cultural nationalism.<ref name="Ganguly 2014" /><ref name=saffronisation>{{cite news |first=Anita |last=Joshua |title=Choice of ICHR chief reignites saffronisation debate |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=20 August 2014 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/choice-of-ichr-chief-reignites-saffronisation-debate/article6214483.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202181112/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/choice-of-ichr-chief-reignites-saffronisation-debate/article6214483.ece |archive-date=2 December 2014 }}</ref><ref name=right_wing>{{cite news |first=Akshaya |last=Mukul |title=Right-wingers question ICHR chief selection |work=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 July 2014 |access-date=20 August 2014 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Right-wingers-question-ICHR-chief-selection/articleshow/38581467.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721002055/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Right-wingers-question-ICHR-chief-selection/articleshow/38581467.cms |archive-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Over its first term the Modi administration appointed other RSS members to lead universities and research institutions, and recruitment of faculty members favoring the RSS increased. Scholars [[Nandini Sundar]] and Kiran Bhatty write that many of these appointees did not possess the qualifications for their positions.<ref name="Bhatty Sundar pp. 632–650"/> The Modi administration also made numerous changes in government-approved history textbooks. These changes de-emphasizing the role of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], and glorifying that of Modi himself, while also portraying Indian society as harmonious, without conflict or inequity.<ref name="Bhatty Sundar pp. 632–650"/><ref name="Bhatty 2019">{{cite encyclopedia | last=Bhatty | first = Kiran | title = School education: Denials and delusions| editor-last1 = Azad | editor-first1=Rohit | editor-last2=Chakraborty | editor-first2=Shouvik | editor-last3=Ramani | editor-first3=Srinivasan | editor-last4=Sinha | editor-first4=Dipa | encyclopedia=A quantum leap in the wrong direction? | date=2019 | isbn=978-93-5287-618-1 | oclc=1089418969 }}</ref>

The BJP supports a [[uniform civil code]], which would apply a common set of personal laws to every citizen regardless of their personal religion, replacing the existing laws which vary by religious community. Historian Yogendra Malik writes that this ignores the differential procedures required to protect the cultural identity of the Muslim minority.{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}}{{sfn|Seshia|1998|pp=1036–1050}} The BJP favoured, and in 2019 enacted,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=192505,|title=Parliament approves Resolution to repeal Article 370; paves way to truly integrate J&K with Indian Union|website=pib.gov.in|access-date=31 March 2021|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310075212/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=192505,|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/article-370-rendered-toothless-article-35a-ceases-to-exist/articleshow/70535292.cms Article 370 rendered toothless, Article 35A ceases to exist] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130063447/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/article-370-rendered-toothless-article-35a-ceases-to-exist/articleshow/70535292.cms |date=30 November 2021 }}, The Economic Times, 5 August 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2019/210049.pdf|title=The Gazette of India|access-date=6 March 2020|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805094806/http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2019/210049.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> the abrogation of [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India]], which granted a greater degree of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir in recognition of the unusual circumstances surrounding its [[Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir)|accession to the Indian Union]].{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}} It simultaneously [[The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019|abrogated Jammu and Kashmir statehood]], reorganizing it into two [[union territory|union territories]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Ladakh]].<ref name="Bhatty Sundar pp. 632–650" />

The BJP opposes [[Illegal immigration in India|illegal immigration into India]] from [[Bangladesh]].{{sfn|Gillan|2002|pp=73–95}} The party states that this migration, mostly in the states of Assam and West Bengal, threatens the security, economy and stability of the country.{{sfn|Gillan|2002|pp=73–95}} Academics have pointed out that the BJP refers to Hindu migrants from Bangladesh as refugees, and reserves the term "illegal" for Muslim migrants.{{sfn|Gillan|2002|pp=73–95}} Academic Michael Gillan perceived it as an attempt to use an emotive issue to mobilise Hindu sentiment in a region where the party has not been historically successful.{{sfn|Gillan|2002|pp=73–95}}{{sfn|Ramachandran|2003}} The party later became the party of government in Assam.<ref>{{cite web|date=17 March 2021|title=Assam's fascinating politics & how RSS took BJP to the top in a state where it didn't exist|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/assams-fascinating-politics-how-rss-took-bjp-to-the-top-in-a-state-where-it-didnt-exist/623280/|access-date=5 May 2021|website=[[ThePrint]]|language=en-US|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518010553/https://theprint.in/opinion/assams-fascinating-politics-how-rss-took-bjp-to-the-top-in-a-state-where-it-didnt-exist/623280/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Modi administration passed a [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019|citizenship law]] in 2019 which provided a pathway to Indian citizenship for [[Religious persecution|persecuted religious]] minorities from [[Afghanistan]], [[Bangladesh]] and [[Pakistan]] who are [[Hindus]], [[Sikhs]], [[Buddhists]], [[Jain]]s, [[Parsis]] or [[Christians]].<ref name="BBC explained"/><ref name="PIBPassesBill" /> The law does not grant such eligibility to [[Muslims]].<ref name="CNNExcludes">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/11/asia/india-citizenship-amendment-bill-intl-hnk/index.html |title=India passes controversial citizenship bill that excludes Muslims |first1=Helen |last1=Regan |first2=Swati |last2=Gupta |first3=Omar |last3=Khan |publisher=CNN |quote=The government, ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the bill seeks to protect religious minorities who fled persecution in their home countries. |access-date=18 March 2023 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215224043/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/11/asia/india-citizenship-amendment-bill-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NPRExcludes">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/11/787220640/india-passes-controversial-citizenship-bill-that-would-exclude-muslims |title=India Passes Controversial Citizenship Bill That Would Exclude Muslims |publisher=NPR |first1=Sam |last1=Gringlas |access-date=18 March 2023 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215032601/https://www.npr.org/2019/12/11/787220640/india-passes-controversial-citizenship-bill-that-would-exclude-muslims |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Washington Post" /> This was first time religion had been overtly used as a criterion for citizenship under [[Indian law]]: it attracted global [[criticism]], and sparked widespread [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|protests]] that were halted by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Bhatty Sundar pp. 632–650"/><ref name="Washington Post"/>{{efn|{{harvp|Jayal|2019|pp=33–50}}: "While some elements of religious difference had... been covertly smuggled in earlier, this bill seeks to do so overtly."}} Counter-demonstrations against the protests developed into the [[2020 Delhi riots]], caused chiefly by Hindu mobs attacking Muslims.<ref name="guardian-3-16-20-1">{{citation|title=Delhi's Muslims despair of justice after police implicated in riots|last1=Ellis-Peterson|first1=Hannah|last2=Azizur Rahman|first2=Shaikh|location=Delhi|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/delhis-muslims-despair-justice-police-implicated-hindu-riots|date=16 March 2020|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317023019/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/delhis-muslims-despair-justice-police-implicated-hindu-riots|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes-Analysis-March1">{{citation|last1=Gettleman|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Abi-Habib|first2=Maria|title=In India, Modi's Policies Have Lit a Fuse|date=1 March 2020|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/world/asia/india-modi-hindus.html|access-date=1 March 2020|archive-date=6 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306120958/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/world/asia/india-modi-hindus.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Of the 53 people killed, two-thirds were Muslim.<ref name=nytimes-2020-3-12-two-thirds>{{citation|title='If We Kill You, Nothing Will Happen': How Delhi's Police Turned Against Muslims|first1=Jeffrey|last1=Gettleman|first2=Sameer|last2=Yasir|first3=Suhasini|last3=Raj|first4=Hari|last4=Kumar|others=Photographs by Loke, Atul|date=12 March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/world/asia/india-police-muslims.html|archive-date=13 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313011029/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/world/asia/india-police-muslims.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wapo-3-6-20-slater-1">{{citation|last1=Slater|first1=Joanna|last2=Masih|first2=Niha|date=6 March 2020|title=In Delhi's worst violence in decades, a man watched his brother burn|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-delhis-worst-violence-in-decades-a-man-watched-his-brother-burn/2020/03/05/892dbb12-5e45-11ea-ac50-18701e14e06d_story.html|access-date=6 March 2020|archive-date=7 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307070624/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-delhis-worst-violence-in-decades-a-man-watched-his-brother-burn/2020/03/05/892dbb12-5e45-11ea-ac50-18701e14e06d_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wapo-3-2-20-slater-1">{{citation|last1=Slater|first1=Joanna|last2=Masih|first2=Niha|date=2 March 2020|title=What Delhi's worst communal violence in decades means for Modi's India|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/what-days-of-communal-violence-mean-for-modi-and-for-india/2020/03/01/3d649c18-5a68-11ea-8efd-0f904bdd8057_story.html|access-date=15 March 2020|archive-date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303203132/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/what-days-of-communal-violence-mean-for-modi-and-for-india/2020/03/01/3d649c18-5a68-11ea-8efd-0f904bdd8057_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=26 February 2020|title=Modi slammed as death toll in New Delhi violence rises|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/modi-slammed-death-toll-delhi-violence-rises-200226192504695.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114013040/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/26/modi-slammed-as-death-toll-in-new-delhi-violence-rises|archive-date=14 January 2021|access-date=30 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Varadarajan|first=Siddharth|date=27 February 2020|title=Narendra Modi's Reckless Politics Brings Mob Rule to New Delhi|work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/narendra-modi-delhi-riots-mob-violence-bjp|url-status=live|access-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112145040/https://thewire.in/communalism/narendra-modi-delhi-riots-mob-violence-bjp|archive-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>

In 2013, the [[Supreme Court of India]] reinstated the controversial [[Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code]], which, among other things, criminalises homosexuality. There was a popular outcry, although clerics, including Muslim religious leaders, stated that they supported the verdict.{{sfn|Times of India|2013}}{{sfn|Buncombe|2014}} BJP president [[Rajnath Singh]] said that the party supported Section 377, because it believed that homosexuality was unnatural,{{sfn|Ramaseshan|2013}} though the party softened the stance after its victory in the 2014 general elections.{{sfn|Business Standard|2014}} The Modi government is opposed to [[same-sex marriage]], stating in a legal affidavit that legalizing it would cause "complete havoc with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country" and that it was "not comparable with Indian family unit concept of a husband, wife & children which necessarily presuppose a biological man as ‘husband’, a biological woman as ‘wife’ and children born out of union".<ref>{{cite news|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/same-sex-marriage-india-b1807278.html|title=Indian government opposes same sex marriage, saying family is 'union of biological man and woman'|date=25 February 2021|access-date=17 January 2023|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117000847/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/same-sex-marriage-india-b1807278.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The BJP's economic policy has changed considerably since its founding. There is a significant range of economic ideologies within the party. In the 1980s, like the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh|Jana Sangh]], it reflected the thinking of the RSS and its affiliates. It supported ''[[swadeshi]]'' (the promotion of indigenous industries and products) and a [[protectionist]] export policy. However, it supported internal [[economic liberalisation]], and opposed the state-driven industrialisation favoured by the Congress.{{sfn|Shulman|2000|pp=365–390}} During the 1996 elections, and later when it was in government, the BJP shifted its stance away from protectionism and towards [[globalisation]]. The tenure of the NDA saw an unprecedented influx of foreign companies in India.{{sfn|Shulman|2000|pp=365–390}} This was criticised, including by the BJP's affiliates, the RSS and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch:{{sfn|Shulman|2000|pp=365–390}} the RSS stated that the BJP was not being true to its ''swadeshi'' ideology.{{sfn|Shulman|2000|pp=365–390}}

The economic policies of Modi's government focused on privatisation and liberalisation of the economy, based on a [[neoliberal]] framework.<ref name="Ruparelia">{{cite journal|last1=Ruparelia|first1=Sanjay|date=12 January 2016|title='Minimum Government, Maximum Governance': The Restructuring of Power in Modi's India|journal=Journal of South Asian Studies|volume=38|issue=4|pages=755–775|doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1089974|issn=0085-6401|doi-access=free|s2cid=155182560}}</ref><ref name="Shah & Lerche">{{cite journal|last1=Shah|first1=Alpa|last2=Lerche|first2=Jens|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2015/41/book-reviews/indias-democracy-illusion-inclusion.html|title=India's Democracy: Illusion of Inclusion|journal=[[Economic & Political Weekly]]|date=10 October 2015|volume=50|issue=41|pages=33–36|access-date=18 March 2023|archive-date=28 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328113150/https://www.epw.in/journal/2015/41/book-reviews/indias-democracy-illusion-inclusion.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Modi liberalised India's [[foreign direct investment]] policies, allowing more foreign investment in several industries, including in defence and the railways.<ref name="Ruparelia" /><ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-07/news/52555932_1_defence-sector-cent-fdi-railways-sector | work=[[The Times of India]]| title=Cabinet approves raising FDI cap in defence to 49 percent, opens up railways | date=7 August 2014 | access-date=27 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807044440/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-07/news/52555932_1_defence-sector-cent-fdi-railways-sector | archive-date=7 August 2015 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/modi-presses-reform-for-india-but-is-it-enough-1416466742 | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | first=Raymond | last=Zhong | title=Modi Presses Reform for India—But Is it Enough? | date=20 November 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329123224/http://www.wsj.com/articles/modi-presses-reform-for-india-but-is-it-enough-1416466742 | archive-date=29 March 2016 | access-date=29 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Other proposed reforms included making it harder for workers to form unions and easier for employers to hire and fire them;<ref name="Shah & Lerche" /> some of these proposals were dropped after protests.<ref name="ET March 2018">{{cite news |title=Modi renews labour reforms push as jobs regain focus before polls |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/modi-renews-labour-reforms-push-as-jobs-regain-focus-before-polls/articleshow/63297358.cms |access-date=6 February 2019 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=14 March 2018 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124121/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/modi-renews-labour-reforms-push-as-jobs-regain-focus-before-polls/articleshow/63297358.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The reforms drew strong opposition from unions: on 2 September 2015, eleven of the country's largest unions went on strike, including one affiliated with the BJP.<ref name="Shah & Lerche" /> The [[Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh]], a constituent of the Sangh Parivar, stated that the underlying motivation of labour reforms favoured corporations over labourers.<ref name="Ruparelia" /> Modi has been described as taking a more economically [[populist]] approach on healthcare and agricultural policy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Modi-rolls-out-his-populist-plans-with-a-second-term-in-mind|work=[[The Nikkei]]|title=Modi rolls out his populist plans with a second term in mind|access-date=20 August 2018|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820174144/https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Modi-rolls-out-his-populist-plans-with-a-second-term-in-mind|url-status=live}}</ref> Modi's government has also been described as taking a more [[protectionist]] turn on international trade during his second term, withdrawing from the [[Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership]] talks<ref>{{cite news|date=15 November 2020|work=[[Times of India]]|title=Why India opted out of world's biggest today|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/why-india-opted-out-of-worlds-biggest-trade-deal-signed-today/articleshow/79230628.cms|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114124257/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/why-india-opted-out-of-worlds-biggest-trade-deal-signed-today/articleshow/79230628.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Out-of-RCEP-India-seeks-an-export-passage-to-Africa|work=[[The Nikkei|Nikkei]]|title=Out of RCEP, India seeks an export passage to Africa|date=3 December 2020|quote=India has made a calculated move to shift its focus from multilateral trade to protectionism.|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=3 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103080258/https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Out-of-RCEP-India-seeks-an-export-passage-to-Africa|url-status=live}}</ref> and introducing the 2020 [[Atmanirbhar Bharat]] economic plan, which emphasises national self-sufficiency.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Financial Times]]|title=Modi forced to tread different path in post-Trump era|date=23 November 2020|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b98a768d-1e2b-4ec0-94ed-75b24daee961 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/b98a768d-1e2b-4ec0-94ed-75b24daee961 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]|title=India Tariffs Show Modi's Protectionist U-Turn|date=19 February 2020|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/trade-war-latest-modi-makes-a-u-turn-k6t9lj64|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303220412/https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/trade-war-latest-modi-makes-a-u-turn-k6t9lj64|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Vajpayee government ordered the Indian armed forces to expel the Pakistani soldiers occupying [[Kashmir]] territory, later known as the [[Kargil War]].{{sfn|Qadir|2002|pp=1–10}}{{sfn|Abbas|2004|p=173}} Although the government was later criticised for the intelligence failures that did not detect Pakistani presence, it was successful in ousting them from the previously Indian-controlled territory.{{sfn|Qadir|2002|pp=1–10}}{{sfn|Abbas|2004|p=173}}

The Modi government has conducted several strikes on territory controlled by neighbouring countries on counterterrorism grounds. This included a [[2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar]] against the [[National Socialist Council of Nagaland]], the [[2016 Indian Line of Control strike]] in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and the [[2019 Balakot airstrike]] in Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite news|work=[[The Economic Times]]|title=Ex-Army chief Dalbir Singh praises PM Narendra Modi for surgical strikes in Pakistan, Myanmar|date=11 July 2018|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/ex-army-chief-dalbir-singh-praises-pm-narendra-modi-for-surgical-strikes-in-pakistan-myanmar/articleshow/60885703.cms|access-date=25 November 2020|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118052537/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/ex-army-chief-dalbir-singh-praises-pm-narendra-modi-for-surgical-strikes-in-pakistan-myanmar/articleshow/60885703.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> It also militarily intervened in defence of [[Bhutan]] during the [[2017 Doklam standoff]] with China.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Quint]]|title=Doklam Standoff: Who's Involved & Why's India Bothered?|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/doklam-standoff-explained|date=14 October 2017|access-date=25 November 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027203809/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/doklam-standoff-explained|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

The Modi government considers national security to be one of their key focuses and has implemented many long-standing defence reforms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2021 |title=The Great Churning: Modi's Transformation of the Indian Military |first1=Anit |last1=Mukherjee |url=https://warontherocks.com/2021/05/the-great-churning-modis-transformation-of-the-indian-military/ |access-date=6 November 2022 |website=War on the Rocks |language=en-US |archive-date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106065208/https://warontherocks.com/2021/05/the-great-churning-modis-transformation-of-the-indian-military/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=BJP Manifesto 2019: National security, welfare key themes for Modi's re-election bid – 5 takeaways |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/elections/bjp-manifesto-2019-national-security-welfare-key-themes-for-modis-re-election-bid-5-takeaways/1541500/ |date=8 April 2019 |access-date=6 November 2022 |newspaper=[[The Financial Express (India)]] |language=en |archive-date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106065206/https://www.financialexpress.com/elections/bjp-manifesto-2019-national-security-welfare-key-themes-for-modis-re-election-bid-5-takeaways/1541500/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2019, the Modi government established the post of the [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)]] to ensure better coordination between all three services, a reform that was widely requested after the 1999 Kargil War.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Explained: What is Chief of Defence Staff that PM Modi announced in I-Day speech |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/explained-what-is-chief-of-defence-staff-cds-pm-narendra-modi-independence-day-speech-1581018-2019-08-15 |date=16 August 2019 |access-date=6 November 2022 |newspaper=[[India Today]] |language=en |archive-date=27 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927070751/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/explained-what-is-chief-of-defence-staff-cds-pm-narendra-modi-independence-day-speech-1581018-2019-08-15 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Department of Military Affairs]] was also established and put under the CDS.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 December 2019 |title=Govt sets up Dept of Military Affairs to be headed by Chief of Defence Staff |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-sets-up-dept-of-military-affairs-to-be-headed-by-chief-of-defence-staff/story-eIC4HPIpbexJgGtpEfMaLI.html |first1=Rahul |last1=Singh |access-date=6 November 2022 |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en |archive-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003170252/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-sets-up-dept-of-military-affairs-to-be-headed-by-chief-of-defence-staff/story-eIC4HPIpbexJgGtpEfMaLI.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The historical stance of the BJP towards [[foreign policy]], like the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, was based on an aggressive [[Hindu nationalism]] combined with economic protectionism.{{sfn|Chaulia|2002|pp=215–234}} The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded with the explicit aim of reversing the [[partition of India]]; as a result, its official position was that the existence of Pakistan was illegitimate.{{sfn|Chaulia|2002|pp=215–234}} This antagonism toward Pakistan remains a significant influence on the BJP's ideology.{{sfn|Chaulia|2002|pp=215–234}}{{sfn|Harris|2005|pp=7–27}} During the Cold War, the party and its affiliates strongly opposed India's long standing policy of [[Non-Aligned Movement|non-alignment]], and instead advocated closeness to the United States.{{sfn|Chaulia|2002|pp=215–234}} In the post-Cold War era, the party has largely embraced the Indian foreign policy consensus of improving relations with the United States,<ref>{{cite book|title=US Foreign Policy and Global Standing in the 21st Century|page=155|year=2016|first=Efraim|last=Inbar|publisher=Taylor & Francis}}</ref> while stressing a desire for a more [[Polarity (international relations)|multipolar]] world order.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Multipolar world should include multipolar Asia: Jaishankar|date=19 September 2020|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/multipolar-world-should-include-multipolar-asia-jaishankar/article32644407.ece|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124010145/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/multipolar-world-should-include-multipolar-asia-jaishankar/article32644407.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Vajpayee administration also offered political support to the U.S. War on Terror, in the hope of better addressing India's issues with terrorism and insurgency in Kashmir. This led to closer defence ties with the US, including negotiations for the sale of weapons.{{sfn|Kux|2002|pp=93–106}} However, the BJP strongly condemned the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], stating that it "deplores the unjustified military action resorted to by the United States, Britain and their allies against Iraq".<ref>{{cite news|work=Arab News|title=BJP Passes Resolution 'Deploring' Iraq War|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/230278|date=5 April 2003|access-date=1 September 2022|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901100757/https://www.arabnews.com/node/230278|url-status=live}}</ref> The BJP also opposed the [[2011 military intervention in Libya]] and urged the [[Lok Sabha]] to pass a unanimous resolution condemning it.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national//article60530375.ece|title=Condemn air strikes on Libya: MPs|date=23 March 2011|access-date=1 September 2022|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901101324/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national//article60530375.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Modi government initially took a pragmatic stance towards Pakistan, attempting to improve relations with [[Nawaz Sharif]]'s government, culminating in Modi visiting Pakistan in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|date=25 December 2015|work=[[BBC]]|title=India PM Modi in surprise Pakistan visit|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35178594|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=11 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211014845/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35178594|url-status=live}}</ref> Relations subsequently deteriorated, particularly after Sharif was ousted in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Times of India]]|date=18 December 2020|title=PM Modi offers condolences to Sharif on his mother's death|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-offers-condolences-to-sharif-on-his-mothers-death/articleshow/79790702.cms|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=22 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222092117/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-offers-condolences-to-sharif-on-his-mothers-death/articleshow/79790702.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The Modi government has since been described as taking a "hardline" approach on Pakistan, and the BJP has accused the opposition Congress of collaborating with Pakistan through its criticism of government policy.<ref>{{cite news|work=Scroll.in|title=The Modi Years: Where does India's Pakistan policy stand?|date=26 February 2019|url=https://scroll.in/article/914369/the-modi-years-where-does-indias-pakistan-policy-stand|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310074955/https://scroll.in/article/914369/the-modi-years-where-does-indias-pakistan-policy-stand|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the Modi government was accused by the Nepalese government of imposing an undeclared [[2015 Nepal blockade|blockade on Nepal]].<ref>{{cite news|work=[[NDTV]]|title=Nepal PM Wants India to Lift Undeclared Blockade|date=15 November 2015|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nepal-pm-wants-india-to-lift-undeclared-blockade-1243695|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108132725/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nepal-pm-wants-india-to-lift-undeclared-blockade-1243695|url-status=live}}</ref> The Modi government expressed concern following the [[2021 Myanmar coup d'état]], but maintained cordial relations with the military government, abstaining from a [[United Nations Security Council]] resolution regarding the situation there.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/prime-minister-modi-and-myanmars-military-junta | title=Prime Minister Modi and Myanmar's Military Junta | date=22 November 2021 | last1=Martin | first1=Michael | access-date=30 January 2023 | archive-date=30 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130192530/https://www.csis.org/analysis/prime-minister-modi-and-myanmars-military-junta | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/india-china-russia-abstain-on-unsc-resolution-on-myanmar/article66291314.ece | title=India abstains from UNSC vote on Myanmar, calls for constructive diplomacy | newspaper=The Hindu | date=22 December 2022 | last1=Haidar | first1=Suhasini | access-date=30 January 2023 | archive-date=30 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130192526/https://www.thehindu.com/news/india-china-russia-abstain-on-unsc-resolution-on-myanmar/article66291314.ece | url-status=live }}</ref> The Modi government remained neutral on the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]],<ref>{{cite news|work=Livemint|title=Why India maintains neutral stand in Russia-Ukraine war? PM Modi answers|date=10 March 2022|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/why-india-maintains-neutral-stand-in-russia-ukraine-war-pm-modi-answers-11646930954628.html|access-date=13 January 2023|archive-date=13 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113134704/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/why-india-maintains-neutral-stand-in-russia-ukraine-war-pm-modi-answers-11646930954628.html|url-status=live}}</ref> abstaining from [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2623]], which condemned the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022–present)|ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|title=Opposition on India's Russia resolution abstention: 'Same side as China'|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/opposition-as-india-skips-russia-resolution-vote-stood-on-same-side-as-china-101645862429168.html|date=26 February 2022|access-date=1 September 2022|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901102900/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/opposition-as-india-skips-russia-resolution-vote-stood-on-same-side-as-china-101645862429168.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The leadership of the Indian National Congress backed the government's stance.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ukraine-crisis-congress-backs-decision-to-abstain-from-voting-on-un-resolutions/articleshow/89967628.cms | title=Ukraine crisis: Congress backs decision to abstain from voting on UN resolutions &#124; India News – Times of India | website=[[The Times of India]] | date=3 March 2022 | access-date=1 September 2022 | archive-date=1 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901102900/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ukraine-crisis-congress-backs-decision-to-abstain-from-voting-on-un-resolutions/articleshow/89967628.cms | url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Further|List of presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party|National Executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party}}

Below the president is the [[National Executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party|National Executive]], which contains a variable number of senior leaders from across the country. It is the higher decision-making body of the party. Its members are several vice-presidents, general-secretaries, treasurers and secretaries, who work directly with the president.{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}} An identical structure, with an executive committee led by a president, exists at the state, regional, district and local level.{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}}

 

The BJP is a cadre-based party. It has close connections with other organisations with similar ideologies, such as the RSS, ABVP, BYSS, VHP and other [[Sangh Parivar]]-related oragnisations. The cadres of these groups often supplement the BJP's. Its lower members are largely derived from the RSS and its affiliates, loosely known as the [[Sangh Parivar]]:{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}}

* The [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] (''All India Students' Union''), the students' wing of the RSS{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}}

* The [[Bharatiya Kisan Sangh]] (''Indian Farmer's Union''), the farmers' division{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}}

* The [[Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh]] (''Indian Labourers Union''), the labour union associated with the RSS{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}}

 

* The BJP Mahila Morcha (''BJP Women's Front''), its women's division{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}}

* The [[Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha]] (''Indian People's Youth Front''), its youth wing{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}}

* The BJP Minority Morcha (''BJP Minority Front''), its minority division{{sfn|Swain|2001|pp=71–104}}

 

{{Clear|left}}

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Year

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Legislature

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"|Party leader

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Seats won

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Change in seats

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Percentage<br />of votes

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Vote swing

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Outcome

! class="unsortable" style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Ref.

| [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]

|<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=Sanjay|date=28 May 2019|title=BJP: Here's how BJP earned the massive mandate: Explained in numbers|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/heres-how-bjp-earned-massive-mandate-explained-in-numbers/articleshow/69529857.cms|url-status=live|access-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203005824/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/heres-how-bjp-earned-massive-mandate-explained-in-numbers/articleshow/69529857.cms|archive-date=3 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=20. Performance of National Parties|url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/10955-20-performance-of-national-parties/|access-date=21 December 2020|website=Election Commission of India|archive-date=7 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107073533/https://eci.gov.in/files/file/10955-20-performance-of-national-parties/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{as of|2023|05}}, 10 states have [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Ministers]] from the BJP, and governments led by that party, sometimes including allied parties. The 10 states are [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Assam]] (with [[Asom Gana Parishad]] and [[United People's Party Liberal]]), [[Goa]], [[Gujarat]], [[Haryana]] (with [[Jannayak Janta Party]]), [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Manipur]] (with [[Naga People's Front]], [[National People's Party (India)|National People's Party]] and [[Lok Janshakti Party]]), [[Tripura]] (with [[Indigenous People's Front of Tripura]]), [[Uttar Pradesh]] (with [[Apna Dal (Sonelal)]]) and [[Uttarakhand]].

In 4 other states and in the [[union territory of Puducherry]], it participates in the government as the junior partner in the ruling alliance with other members of the [[National Democratic Alliance]]. The states are: [[Maharashtra]] (with [[Shiv Sena]], other small parties and independents), [[Meghalaya]] (with the [[National People's Party (India)|National People's Party]], [[United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|United Democratic Party]], [[People's Democratic Front (Meghalaya)|People's Democratic Front]] and [[Hill State People's Democratic Party]]), [[Nagaland]] (with the [[Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party]]), and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] (with the [[All India N.R. Congress]]). The BJP's ally, the [[Sikkim Krantikari Morcha]], holds power in [[Sikkim]], but the BJP has no ministers in the government.

The BJP has previously held power in [[Karnataka]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Delhi]], [[Rajasthan]] and [[Jharkhand]], and has been the junior coalition partner in governments in [[Andhra Pradesh]] (with the [[Telugu Desam Party]]), [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] (with the [[Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party]]), [[Odisha]] (with the [[Biju Janata Dal]]), [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] (with the [[Shiromani Akali Dal]]), and [[Tamil Nadu]] (with the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]). It has never held power in [[Kerala]], [[Telangana]], and [[West Bengal]].

In addition to the NDA, the BJP is also a part of a regional political alliance in Northeast India named the [[North-East Democratic Alliance]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web |last=Pisharoty |first=Sangeeta Barooah |date=25 May 2016 |title=BJP Crafts North East Democratic Alliance to Make the Region 'Congress Mukt' |url=https://thewire.in/politics/bjp-crafts-north-east-democratic-alliance-to-make-the-region-congress-mukt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526113451/http://thewire.in/2016/05/25/bjp-crafts-north-east-democratic-alliance-to-make-the-region-congress-mukt-38680/ |archive-date=26 May 2016 |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref><ref name="hindustantimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/amit-shah-holds-meeting-with-northeast-cms-forms-alliance/story-YDYLQ6YsImuzZOQ6Zev5MO.html|title=Amit Shah holds meeting with northeast CMs, forms alliance|date=25 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526061921/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/amit-shah-holds-meeting-with-northeast-cms-forms-alliance/story-YDYLQ6YsImuzZOQ6Zev5MO.html|archive-date=26 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="ndtv.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hours-after-sonowal-oath-ceremony-bjp-forms-anti-congress-bloc-in-northeast-1409824|title=BJP Acts East With New Anti-Congress Bloc, Puts Himanta Biswa in Charge|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525135628/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hours-after-sonowal-oath-ceremony-bjp-forms-anti-congress-bloc-in-northeast-1409824|archive-date=25 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Current seats in State Legislative Assemblies ===

[[Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|49|60|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Assam Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|63|126|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|78|243|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Goa Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|28|40|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|156|182|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Haryana Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|41|90|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|25|68|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|66|224|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|130|230|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|105|288|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Manipur Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|37|60|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|6|30|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Punjab Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|2|117|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|70|200|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Telangana Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|3|119|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Tripura Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|31|60|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|255|403|hex=#FF9933}}

[[Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|47|70|hex=#FF9933}}

[[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|70|294|hex=#FF9933}}|headerstyle=background-color:#ccccff|style=text-align:center;}}

=== Current seats in State Legislative councils ===

== List of prime ministers ==

{{further|List of prime ministers of India}}

{| class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" style="background:#f93; color:white;"| No

! rowspan="2" style="background:#f93; color:white;" | Portrait

! rowspan="2" style="background:#f93; color:white;" | Prime minister

! rowspan="2" style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Constituency

! colspan="3" style="background:#f93; color:white;" | Term in office

! rowspan="2" style="background:#f93; color:white;" | Lok Sabha

! rowspan="2" style="background:#f93; color:white;" | Cabinet

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Start

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| End

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"| Tenure

| rowspan ="3" |[[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)|Lucknow]]

| rowspan="3" |6 years, 80 days

| rowspan="2" |[[Varanasi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Varanasi]]

| rowspan="2" | {{age in years and days|2014|5|26}}

== List of deputy prime ministers ==

 

== List of current chief ministers ==

{{As of|2022|5}}, 49 people from Bharatiya Janata Party have held the position of a chief minister, 11 of whom are incumbent.

 

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"|No

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"|State

! style="background:#f93; color:white;" |Portrait

! style="background:#f93; color:white;" |Name

! style="background:#f93; color:white;"|Cabinet

! style="background:#f93; color:white;" colspan="2"|Governing coalition

|Rowspan=2|1

|Rowspan=2|[[Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Arunachal Pradesh]]

| rowspan="2" |[[File:Pema Khandu in July 2016.jpg|80px|border]]

| rowspan="2" |[[Pema Khandu]]

|Rowspan=2|[[Second Pema Khandu ministry|Khandu II]]

| style="background:#f93;"|

|BJP  

| style="background:#db7093;"|

|[[National People's Party (India)|NPP]]  

|Rowspan=3| 2

| rowspan="3" |[[Himanta Biswa Sarma]]

|Rowspan=3|[[Sarma ministry|Sarma]]

| style="background:#9cf;"|

|[[Asom Gana Parishad|AGP]]

| style="background:#f3ed13;"|

|[[United People's Party Liberal|UPPL]]  

|Rowspan=3| 3

| rowspan="3" |[[Pramod Sawant]]

|Rowspan=3|[[Second Pramod Sawant ministry|Sawant II]]

| style="background:#93c;"|

|[[Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party|MGP]]

| style="background:#cdcdcd;"|

|[[Independent politician|IND]]

| 4

|[[First Bhupendrabhai Patel ministry|Patel II]]

| style="background:#f93;"|

|BJP

|Rowspan=4| 5

| rowspan="4" |[[File:Manohar Lal Khattar 2015.jpg|80px|border]]

| rowspan="4" |[[Manohar Lal Khattar]]

| style="background:#f93;"|

|BJP

| style="background:#026d37;"|

| [[Jannayak Janata Party|JJP]]

| style="background:#0093ed;"|

|[[Haryana Lokhit Party|HLP]]

| style="background:#cdcdcd;"|

|[[Independent politician|IND]]

|Rowspan=2| 6

| rowspan="2" |[[File:Shivraj Singh Chauhan (cropped 2).jpg|108x108px]]

| rowspan="2" |[[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]]

| style="background:#f93;"|

|BJP

|Rowspan=5| 7

| rowspan="5" |[[N. Biren Singh]]

|Rowspan=5|[[Second N. Biren Singh ministry|Singh II]]

| style="background:#DB7093|

|[[National People's Party (India)|NPP]]

| style="background:#906;"|

|[[Naga People's Front|NPF]]

| style="background:#f00;"|

|[[Kuki People's Alliance|KPA]]

| style="background:#cdcdcd;"|

|[[Independent politician|IND]]

|Rowspan=2| 8

| rowspan="2" | [[File:Manik Saha Invitation for HWC 2023.jpg|80px|border]]

| rowspan="2" |[[Manik Saha]]

|Rowspan=2| [[Second Saha ministry|Saha II]]

| style="background:#f93;"|

|BJP

|Rowspan=3| 9

| rowspan="3" |[[Yogi Adityanath]]

|Rowspan=3|[[Second Yogi Adityanath ministry|Adityanath II]]

| style="background:#306;"|

|[[Apna Dal (Sonelal)|AD(S)]]

| style="background:#b80000;"|

|[[NISHAD Party|NP]]

|Rowspan=2| 10

| rowspan="2" | [[File:Pushkar Dhami.jpg|80px]]

| rowspan="2" | [[Pushkar Singh Dhami]]

|Rowspan=2| [[Second Dhami ministry|Dhami II]]

| style="background:#f93;"|

|BJP

* [[Organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party]]

=== Explanatory notes ===

{{Notelist|30em}}

=== General and cited sources ===

{{Refbegin|30em}}

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* {{cite book |last1 = Swain |first1 = Pratap Chandra |title = Bharatiya Janata Party: Profile and Performance |date = 2001 |publisher = APH publishing |location = India |isbn = 978-81-7648-257-8 |pages = 71–104 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=7Gk1Wz4k_xUC |access-date = 5 July 2014 |archive-date = 14 April 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061228/https://books.google.com/books?id=7Gk1Wz4k_xUC |url-status = live }}

* {{cite web |title = Bangaru Laxman convicted for taking bribe |url = http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ws270412Bangaru.asp |work = [[Tehelka]] |access-date = 9 May 2012 |ref = {{harvid |Tehelka |2001}} |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120511094603/http://tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ws270412Bangaru.asp |archive-date = 11 May 2012 |url-status = dead }}

* {{cite web |url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-results-2014-India-places-its-faith-in-Moditva/articleshow/35224486.cms |title = Election results 2014: India places its faith in Moditva |publisher = Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date = 17 May 2014 |access-date = 11 August 2014 |ref = {{harvid |Times of India |2014}} |archive-date = 20 October 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141020223225/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-results-2014-India-places-its-faith-in-Moditva/articleshow/35224486.cms |url-status = live }}

* {{cite news |url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-07-13/mumbai/27289812_1_vaiko-pota-prevention-of-terrorism-act |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120916205038/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-07-13/mumbai/27289812_1_vaiko-pota-prevention-of-terrorism-act |url-status = dead |archive-date = 16 September 2012 |title = SP condemns Vaiko's arrest under Pota |date = 13 July 2002 |work = [[The Times of India]] |ref = {{harvid |Times of India |2002}} }}

* {{cite news |title = BJP amends constitution allowing Gadkari to get a second term |url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-amends-constitution-allowing-Nitin-Gadkari-to-get-a-second-term/articleshow/16587211.cms |access-date = 4 April 2014 |work = The Times of India |date = 28 September 2012 |ref = {{harvid |Times of India |2012}} |archive-date = 20 October 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141020223443/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-amends-constitution-allowing-Nitin-Gadkari-to-get-a-second-term/articleshow/16587211.cms |url-status = live }}

* {{cite news |title = Stand with RSS, BJP |url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-12-20/news/45418111_1_sc-verdict-bjp-and-rss-review-petition |access-date = 13 March 2014 |work = The Times of India |date = 20 December 2013 |ref = {{harvid |Times of India |2013}} |archive-date = 13 March 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140313193845/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-12-20/news/45418111_1_sc-verdict-bjp-and-rss-review-petition |url-status = live }}

* {{cite news |last = Chatterjee |first = Mohua |url = http://www.firstpost.com/politics/bjp-enrolls-11-crore-members-launches-mahasampark-abhiyan-2339462.html |title = BJP enrolls 11 crore members, launches 'Mahasampark Abhiyan' |work = First Post |date = 13 July 2015 |ref = {{harvid |First Post |2015}} |access-date = 14 July 2015 |archive-date = 24 September 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924144320/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/bjp-enrolls-11-crore-members-launches-mahasampark-abhiyan-2339462.html |url-status = live }}

* {{cite web |title = India: International Religious Freedom Report |url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2005/51618.htm |publisher = US Department of state |access-date = 11 August 2014 |ref = {{harvid |International Religious Freedom Report |2005}} |archive-date = 3 July 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170703181658/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2005/51618.htm |url-status = live }}

{{Refend}}

* {{cite book |first1=Walter K. |last1=Andersen |author-link=Walter K. Andersen |first2=Shridhar D. |last2=Damle |title=The Brotherhood in Saffron: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Hindu Revivalism |url=https://archive.org/details/brotherhoodinsaf0000ande |url-access=registration |orig-year=Originally published by Westview Press |publisher=Vistaar Publications |location=Delhi |year=1987 |ref=none }}

* {{cite book |first=Craig |last=Baxter |author-link=Craig Baxter |title=The Jana Sangh&nbsp;— A Biography of an Indian Political Party |publisher=Oxford University Press, Bombay |year=1971 |orig-year=first published by [[University of Pennsylvania Press]] 1969 |isbn=978-0-8122-7583-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/janasanghbiograp0000baxt |ref=none }}

* {{cite journal|last1=Chadha|first1=Kalyani|first2=Pallavi|last2=Guha|title=The Bharatiya Janata Party's online campaign and citizen involvement in India's 2014 election|url=https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/4947|journal=[[International Journal of Communication]]|volume=10|date=2016|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516184915/https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/4947|url-status=live}}

* {{cite journal|last=Ganguly|first=Sumit|title=Hindu nationalism and the foreign policy of India's Bharatiya Janata Party|journal=Transatlantic Academy Paper Series|volume=2|date=2015|pages=1–15|url=https://www.gmfus.org/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Ganguly_HinduNationalismForeignPolicy_Jun15_web.pdf|isbn=978-1-5292-0460-5|access-date=11 January 2021|archive-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304071320/https://www.gmfus.org/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Ganguly_HinduNationalismForeignPolicy_Jun15_web.pdf|url-status=dead}}

* {{cite journal|url=[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00856401.2015.1089826 |doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1089826 |title=Hindu Nationalism in Action: The Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian Politics |year=2015 |last1=Harriss |first1=John |journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies |volume=38 |issue=4 |pages=712–718 |s2cid=147615034 }}

* {{cite journal|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot|title=Communal Riots in Gujarat: The State at Risk?|journal=Heidelberg Papers in South Asian and Comparative Politics|date=July 2003|page=16|url=http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/4127/1/hpsacp17.pdf|access-date=5 November 2013|ref=none|archive-date=4 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204131058/http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/4127/1/hpsacp17.pdf|url-status=live}}

* {{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41856327 |jstor=41856327 |title=Foreign Policy Position of Bharatiya Janata Party Towards Issues of India Pakistan Relations |last1=Sanjeev Kr |first1=H. M. |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |year=2007 |volume=68 |issue=2 |pages=275–291 }}

 

* {{Official website|https://www.bjp.org/}}

* {{GovPubs|bjp%20india|BJP}}

* {{Internet Archive author|sname=Bharatiya Janata Party}}

* {{Britannica|64033}}

 

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