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=== Formation and early days === | === Formation and early days === | ||
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. Historian Ramchandra 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. This was unsuccessful, as it won only two Lok Sabha seats in the Elections of 1984.<ref>https://online.ucpress.edu/as/article-abstract/32/4/318/22948/Bharatiya-Janata-Party-An-Alternative-to-the?redirectedFrom=fulltext</ref> The assassination of Indira Gandhi a few months earlier resulted in a wave of support for the congress which won a record tally of 403 seats, contributing to the low number for the BJP.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_After_Gandhi</ref> | 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. Historian Ramchandra 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. This was unsuccessful, as it won only two Lok Sabha seats in the Elections of 1984.<ref>https://online.ucpress.edu/as/article-abstract/32/4/318/22948/Bharatiya-Janata-Party-An-Alternative-to-the?redirectedFrom=fulltext</ref> The assassination of Indira Gandhi a few months earlier resulted in a wave of support for the congress which won a record tally of 403 seats, contributing to the low number for the BJP.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_After_Gandhi</ref> | ||
===Janata Party (1977–80)=== | |||
In 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a 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 In 1977, the emergency was withdrawn and general elections were held.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, the Congress (O) and the Bharatiya Lok Dal to form the Janata Party, with its main agenda being defeating Indira Gandhi. | |||
== References == | == References == | ||