Describe the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

BJP was founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

(i) Bharatiya Janta Party wants to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s ancient culture and values. Cultural nationalism (or Hindutva) is an important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and politics. It wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of their religion and ban on religious conversions.

(ii) Its support base was increased substantially in the 1990s. Earlier, it was limited to north and west and to urban areas. This party has now expanded its support in the South-East, the North-East and in rural areas. Came to power in 1998, as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance including several state and regional parties.