Political Parties of India

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,created in 1980, is one of the two major national political parties in India. It projects itself as a champion of the socio-religious cultural values of the country's Hindu majority, conservative social policies, and strong national defence. Its constituency is strengthened by the broad umbrella of Hindu nationalist organizations, informally known as the Sangh Parivar (League of Indian nationalist organizations), in which the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh plays a leading role.

Since its inception, the BJP has been a prime opponent of the Indian National Congress. It has allied with regional parties to roll back the left-of-centre tendencies formerly endorsed by the Congress Party, which dominated Indian politics for four decades. The ideological rallying cry of the BJP is Hindutva, literally "Hinduness," or cultural Hindu nationalism.

The BJP, in alliance with several other parties, led the Government of India between 1998 and 2004, under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, its most senior leaders. It is the leading party within the National Democratic Alliance and leads the opposition.

Leader : Rajnath Singh
Political Symbol : Lotus
Founded : 1980


Communist Party of India (CPI)
The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925. But the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which split-off from the CPI, claims that the party was founded in the USSR in 1920.

Leader : A.B. Bardhan
Founded : 1920
Political Symblol : ears of maize and sickle



Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (usually abbreviated to CPI(M) or CPM) is a political party in India. It is strongest in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. In all of these states, as of 2006, it currently holds the government. It split from the Communist Party of India in 1964. CPI(M) claims to have 814,408 members as of 2002.

Leader : Prakash Karat
Founded : 1964
Political Symblol : hammer, sickle, and star



Indian National Congress (INC - Congress)
Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party or Congress (I), abbreviated INC) is a major political party in India. Created in 1885 by AO Hume, the Indian National Congress became the nation's leader in the Independence Movement, with over 15 million Indians involved in its organizations and over 70 million participants in its struggle against the British Empire. After independence in 1947, it became the nation's dominant political party. In the 14th Lok Sabha (2004-2009), 145 INC members, the largest contingent amongst all parties, serve in the house. The party is currently the chief member of the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition government supported by the Left Front.

Leader : Sonia Gandhi
Founded : 1885
Political Symblol : hand



Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
It was formed on May 25, 1999, by Sharad Pawar, P.A. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar after they were thrown out of the Congress Party because of stating their belief that a person of foreign origin should not become the Prime Minister of India.

Leader : Sharad Pawar
Founded : 1999


The Lok Jan Shakti Party
The Lok Jan Shakti Party is a political party in India. It is led by Ram Vilas Paswan. The party was formed in 2000 when Paswan split from Janata Dal (United). The party has considerable following amongst Dalits in Bihar. The 2004 Lok Sabha elections marked a major break-through for the party.It contested the polls in alliance with Congress and RJD and won 4 Lok Sabha seats. Ramvilas Paswan became the minister of Steel and Fertilizers. In 2005 Bihar assembly poll the party contested in alliance with Congress and against RJD and won 29 assembly seats. It has the key to form the next government in Bihar.

Leader : Ram vilas Paswan
Founded : 2000


Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party (Party for Telugu Land) or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N.T. Rama Rao on March 29, 1982. Rama Rao wanted an alternative to the ruling Congress Party in the state. After establishing his party, he embraced Sanyasa (or renunciation) and vowed to dedicate himself to the Telugu people and to rejuvenate Telugu pride.In the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004), it was the fourth largest party with 29 members.

Leader : N. Chandrababu Naidu
Founded : 1982


Janata Dal (United)
Janata Dal (United) is a political party in India with political presence mainly in Bihar and Karnataka. It is led by George Fernandes. The current party was formed by the merger of the erstwhile Janata Dal (United) with the Samata Party on October 30, 2003. The uniting force is believed to be common opposition to Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar especially after the RJD welcomed Samata Party rebels like Raghunath Jha and Brahmananad Mandal into the party. Janata Dal (United) is a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance.

The Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal -ironically bitter political opponents today - originate from the same Janata Dal and Jayaprakash Narayan's Total Revolution movement of 1974.

Currently, the JD(U) heads the government in Bihar. The JD(U) along with its alliance partner, the BJP overthrew the RJD-led UPA government in Bihar in November, 2005. The government is headed by JD(U) leader, Nitish Kumar.


Rashtriya Janata Dal
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD- "National People's Party") is a political party in India. It is led by Laloo Prasad Yadav. It held power in the Indian state of Bihar, under the Chief Ministers Laloo Yadav and then Rabri Devi, who is also Laloo's wife, but after the elections in February 2005 the state of Bihar came under President's Rule through Governor of Bihar Sardar Buta Singh. Since then, a new election has brought another party to power in the state. The RJD is also a member of India's governing coalition led by the Congress Party. The RJD was formed when Laloo Yadav broke away from Janata Dal in 1997.


Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena is a nationalist political party in India founded on June 19, 1966 by Bal Thackeray, who is currently the president of the party. The Sena's ideology is based on the concepts of 'Bhumiputra' (Marathi for "Sons of the Soil") and Hindutva or Hindu nationalism. The 'Bhumiputra' ideology refers to the Shiv Sena's belief that Maharashtrians deserve more rights in Maharashtra than those who are not from Maharashtra. However, in recent times, the Sena has laid more emphasis on Hindutva. In the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004), it had 15 (out of 545) members. During that period, the party was part of the government coalition at the national level. Manohar Joshi, a Shiv Sainik, was the Speaker of Lok Sabha 2002-2004.

Shiv Sena has its employment cell Shiv Udyog Sena. Bharatiya Kamgar Sena ("Indian Worker's Army"), a labour union, is affiliated to the Shiv Sena. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena ("All India Students' Army") is the student wing of Shiv Sena.


Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party (Socialist Party) is a political party in India. It describes itself as a democratic socialist party. It was founded on 4 October 1992. It is one of several parties that emerged when the Janata Dal ("People's Party), India's primary opposition party prior to the BJP, was fragmented into several regional parties. Samajwadi Party is led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

In the 14th Lok Sabha, it currently has 38 members, and is the fourth largest party in that house, its best ever tally. Besides 36 members from Uttar Pradesh, it won one seat from Uttranchal (formerly part of U.P.). In 2005, former Karnataka Chief Minister Bangarappa resigned from the BJP to join the Samajwadi Party. He successfully held on to his Lok Sabha seat from Shimoga under a new party ticket.


Nationalist Trinamool Congress
Nationalist Trinamool Congress is a political party in India. NTC was formed in 2004 when the All India Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee merged with P.A. Sangma's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party. NTC is a member of National Democratic Alliance, a coalition led by BJP.


Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
The Bahujan Samaj Party is a political party in India. In the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004) it had 14 (out of 545) members. The party has its main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh, whose government the party has led several times.

Leader : Mayawati
Political Symbol : Elephant