Rise and Fall: How BJP Started and Evolved as Largest Political Party in the World?

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Most scholarly studies of current Indian politics have shockingly ignored the significance that ideas play in defining the dynamics of India's party system and, by extension, underlying voter behaviour. By focusing on three major topics, this chapter investigates the ideological crosscurrents that have contributed to the establishment of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a heavyweight on India's political scene. 

First and foremost, how did the BJP come to be the single voice of Hindu majoritarian politics? Second, given that parties work within the competitive bounds established by other political actors, what constraints and possibilities in the Indian party system drove the BJP's rise? Third, while the BJP has established itself as a dominating force in Indian politics, what obstacles does it face in the future?

This chapter examines the BJP's ascent in the 1980s and 1990s, its subsequent temporary stagnation, and its recent ascension under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP's rise has been gradual, and its win in 2014 was, in some respects, a historical climax of the war over rival views of Indian nationhood that has raged for nearly two centuries.

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The Beginnings 

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS; Indian People's Association) in 1951 as the political wing of the pro-Hindu group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS; "National Volunteers Corps"). The BJS campaigned for the reconstruction of India in conformity with Hindu culture and the establishment of a strong unified state.

The BJS developed a significant foothold in northern India's Hindi-speaking regions in 1967. Ten years later, the party, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, merged with three other political organisations to establish the Janata Party and assumed power. The government, however, dissolved in July 1979 due to factionalism and internal conflicts. 

The BJP was initially created in 1980, following a break within the Janata alliance caused by dissidents who wanted to bar elected BJS officials from joining the RSS. (Since one of its members killed Mahatma Gandhi, critics of the RSS have continually accused it of political and religious radicalism.) The BJS later restructured as the BJP, led by Vajpayee, Lal Krishan Advani, and Murali Manohar Joshi.

Conflicts

The BJP promoted Hindutva ("Hindu-ness"), an ideology that aimed to define Indian culture in terms of Hindu values, and it was harshly critical of the Indian National Congress' secular policies and practises (Congress Party). The BJP's political triumph began in 1989 when it seized on anti-Muslim sentiment by pushing for the construction of a Hindu temple in an area of Ayodhya considered sacred by Hindus but inhabited at the time by the Babri Masjid (Mosque of Babri). By 1991, the BJP had significantly increased its electoral appeal, securing 117 Lok Sabha (lower chamber of the Indian parliament) seats and gaining control of four states.

The destruction of the Babri Masjid in December 1992 by organisations linked to the BJP sparked a strong backlash against the party. The destruction of the mosque sparked nationwide unrest, killing over 1,000 people. Many secularists in contemporary India viewed the party with mistrust and suspicion.

The BJP's leaders staged a series of rath yatras ("journeys on the carriage"), or political marches, in which the Hindu god Rama was symbolically invoked as the emblem of cultural revival to assuage public fear, restore faith in the party and extend its base.

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Return to Power

However, as the 2014 Lok Sabha elections approached, the BJP's chances began to improve, owing partly to growing dissatisfaction with Congress Party control. Narendra Modi, Gujarat's long-serving chief minister (head of government), was picked to spearhead the BJP's electoral campaign, making him the party's candidate for prime minister.

The BJP easily won the election, which was held in many stages between April and May. The party won 282 seats outright, giving it a comfortable majority in the House, and its NDA partners secured 54 more. 

Shortly after the election results were published, Modi was appointed leader of the party's parliamentary members, and he began creating a government that comprised not just senior BJP officials but also several leaders from coalition partners. On May 26, 2014, Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister.

The BJP's rule comprised a mix of economic and Hindutva-promoting measures. With only a few hours' warning, 500- and 1,000-rupee banknotes were demonetized on November 8, 2016, with the goal of halting "black money"—cash used for illegal operations.

More than 99 per cent of the banknotes were returned and replaced, demonstrating that even "black money" was swapped and returned to circulation. However, the programme did extend the income tax base by increasing bank activity and encouraging the use of cashless transactions. 

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented in 2017, overhauling the collection of consumer taxes across the country. Meanwhile, the BJP appealed to Hindutva sentiments by prohibiting the selling of cows for slaughter, a move that was later reversed.

The party's second term in office was characterised by quick and harsh acts. The BJP-led government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomy in August 2019 and placed the former state under direct administration of the union government in October. During the changeover, communications and movement within the area were severely restricted. The development of the global COVID-19 epidemic in March 2020 caused the government to impose a stringent nationwide lockdown until June. 

The BJP made measures to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic as restrictions were loosened. Among these attempts was Modi's use of executive action to remove barriers to selling products and stimulate private investment. Critics worried that the changes would expose farmers to exploitation, yet the measures were enacted without consultation with those affected. 

Protests against the measures erupted in January 2021, culminating in clashes with police and the storming of the Red Fort on Republic Day, and the government responded by enforcing Internet blocks and penalising organisers, participants, and media. Nonetheless, opposition to the reforms persisted into November, and the BJP indicated that they will be rescinded in order to avoid losing support in future state elections.

Written By: Greeshma Chowdary

Edited By: Nidhi Jha