Bharatiya Janata Party

views updated Jun 11 2018

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Indian political party. In the ‘emergency’ of 1975–77, most of the non-communist left-of-centre and right-wing parties formed the coalition Janata Party in opposition to Indira Gandhi ruling Congress Party. The alliance collapsed in 1979, and the BJP emerged as one of the principal remnants. Broadly right-wing, the BJP is in favour of the creation of a Hindu state, Hindustan. The BJP won the 1996, 1998, and 1999 parliamentary elections.