With 140 million members, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stands today as the largest political party, not only in India but in the entire world. The BJP is a nationalist political party firmly committed to establishing India as a robust, prosperous, and powerful nation on the global stage. With the objective of transforming India into a capable nation, the BJP was formally constituted on April 6, 1980, during a convention of party workers held at the Kotla Grounds in New Delhi; Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was elected as its first President.
Right from its inception, the BJP made its presence felt powerfully within Indian democracy by remaining vocal on issues of international, national, and public interest, thereby adding new dimensions to Indian politics. The BJP played a pioneering role in ushering in an era of coalition politics by transforming the Indian political landscape, previously characterised by a monopolistic, single-party democratic system dominated by the Congress, into a bipolar system.
The BJP also laid the foundation for development-centric politics in the country, first by assuming power in various states and subsequently across the entire nation during the tenure of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. In 2014, after a hiatus of three decades, the people of India granted a single political party a clear, absolute majority under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Currently, the BJP-led NDA government remains in power at the Centre for a third consecutive term, backed by a massive majority.
The Bharatiya Janata Party remains ceaselessly active in its mission to build a strong, empowered, prosperous, capable, and self-reliant India. The Party envisions a nation that embodies a progressive and enlightened society—one imbued with a modern outlook, and which, while drawing inspiration from ancient Indian civilisation, culture, and values, establishes itself on the global stage as a great ‘Global Power’ and a ‘Global Mentor’ (Vishwa Guru). Furthermore, it aspires to influence the nations of the world in pursuit of global peace and the establishment of a just international order.
Working with unwavering fidelity to the values and principles enshrined in the Constitution of India, the BJP regards a state founded upon a democratic framework as its fundamental bedrock. The Party aims to establish a democratic state wherein all citizens, irrespective of caste, creed, or gender, are assured of political, social, and economic justice, equal opportunities, and freedom of religious belief and expression.
The BJP has adopted the ‘Integral Humanism’ philosophy, propounded by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, as its core ideological framework. Furthermore, the Party places special emphasis on “Antyodaya” (upliftment of the last person), good governance, cultural nationalism, development, and national security. Today, the BJP has emerged as a leading nationalist force in the country and remains steadfastly committed to the nation’s good governance, development, unity, and integrity. With a membership exceeding 140 million, the BJP has become the largest political party not only in India but in the entire world. Currently, the BJP and its allies form the government in 21 states across the country; indeed, from the “Panchayat” level to the Parliament, the drums of the BJP’s triumph are resounding everywhere today.
The ‘blooming lotus’ has become the solution to every challenge facing the nation. For ten years, the Party played an active and exemplary role as the Opposition. In 2014, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the BJP formed a government with an absolute majority for the first time in the country’s history; this feat was repeated in 2019, and for a third time in 2024, once again under the leadership of Narendra Modi; forming a government that is currently engaged in rebuilding a glorious India under the clarion call of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (Support of All, Development for All).
In 2014, under the leadership of National President Amit Shah, the BJP became the world’s largest political party with approximately 110 million members. Subsequently, under the leadership of the outgoing National President, Jagat Prakash Nadda, it once again reaffirmed its status as the world’s largest party, boasting a membership exceeding 120 million. The fact that this colossal global party is currently led by the 45-year-old youth leader Shri Nitin Nabin attests to the BJP’s ability to evolve and adapt to changing times.
On May 26, 2014, Narendra Damodardas Modi took the oath as the Prime Minister of India. Under the leadership of Modi-ji, the BJP government has achieved unprecedented milestones within a short span of time. He has restored India’s dignity on the global stage and re-established the people’s faith in politics. Through numerous innovative schemes, he has ushered in a new era. The nation has embarked upon a path defined by ‘Antyodaya’ (upliftment of the last person), good governance, development, and prosperity. Economic and social reforms are paving the way for a secure and dignified life. New policies for farmers- ranging from credit access to fertiliser support, such as the ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana’ (Prime Minister’s Agricultural Irrigation Scheme) and the ‘Soil Health Card’ scheme- have ignited a spark for rapid agricultural growth. This is a new era of good governance. Be it the ‘Adarsh Gram Yojana’ (Model Village Scheme), the ‘Swachhata Abhiyan’ (Cleanliness Campaign), or the mission to make India healthy through the practice of Yoga, all these initiatives have infused the nation with renewed energy.
The BJP’s Modi government has taken decisive steps toward making India modern and empowered through initiatives such as ‘Make in India,’ ‘Skill India,’ the AMRUT Mission, the ‘Deendayal Gram Jyoti Yojana’, and ‘Digital India.’ Numerous schemes; including the ‘Jan Dhan Yojana’, ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter), and the ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’ are spearheading a new revolution across the country. The BJP government has gifted the nation’s citizens the world’s largest social security scheme. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government has safeguarded the lives of Muslim women by abolishing the regressive practice of ‘Triple Talaq’ as a measure of social reform; furthermore, by recently passing the ‘Waqf Board Amendment Bill’, it has taken action to curb the misappropriation of funds and the illegal encroachment of properties occurring in the name of Waqf.
The collective strength of the BJP’s dedicated cadres, combined with the systematic governance of the Central Government led by Narendra Modi, serves as a guarantee of good governance. Over the past 11 years, the Central Government- along with BJP-led state governments has delivered a quality of governance superior to that of governments led by other political parties. For the last 11 years, under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, the process of positive and effective governance has progressed rapidly. However, it will still take some time to fully rectify the deep-seated systemic distortions of the past. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a political party founded upon principles and ideals. It is not a party belonging to any specific family, caste, or class. The unifying thread binding BJP workers together consists of India’s cultural values, our collective allegiances, and the unwavering resolve to achieve India’s ultimate glory; coupled with the self-confidence that, through our own diligent efforts, we shall realise these aspirations.
If the BJP’s ideology were to be encapsulated in a single phrase, it would be “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” (Victory to Mother India). “Bharat” signifies “our country”- a landmass stretching from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, bestowed upon us by nature as a single, indivisible geographical entity. This land is our Mother, and we, the people of India, are her children. As children of the same mother, all Indians are siblings, brothers and sisters bound by a common lineage. The invocation of “Bharat Mata” serves to keep alive the consciousness of our shared culture, land, and people. In the cry of “Victory to this Mother,” our collective resolve is proclaimed; and within the vision of her “ultimate glory” lies the happiness of all her children, as well as the establishment of peace and harmony across the world, rooted in the foundations of our own culture. This, in essence, is “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
According to Article 3 of the BJP’s Constitution, “Integral Humanism” constitutes our core philosophy. This philosophy teaches us to view the human being comprising body, mind, intellect, and soul in an “integral,” or holistic, manner. Far from perceiving any conflict between the individual and society, this philosophy envisions the individual’s fulfilment through a natural process of evolution and the expansion of consciousness extending from the self to the family, the village, the state, the nation, and ultimately, the entire cosmos. Furthermore, this philosophy posits a maternal relationship between nature and humanity, one in which natural resources are utilised to fulfil human needs while simultaneously ensuring the preservation and health of the natural environment.
Article 4 of the BJP’s Constitution delineates five fundamental commitments. These “Panch Nishthas” (Five Commitments) are: Nationalism and National Integration; Democracy; a Gandhian approach to socio-economic issues; Positive Secularism (characterised by ‘Sarva Panth Samabhav’- equal respect for all faiths); and Value-Based Politics. Together, these five commitments weave the complete fabric of our ideological foundation. For the workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party, these five commitments serve as guiding beacons- much like a lighthouse. The Bharatiya Janata Party stands out as the political organisation whose workers make the Nation come first, the Party come second, and the Individual come last. Speaking in Parliament, India’s former Prime Minister, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, once said: “For some, India may be merely a piece of land; for us, it is the Motherland. To us, India is a living, breathing National Being- a land of reverence, a land of salutation, a land of dedication, and a land of spiritual offering. Every single particle of this land is a mighty ocean; every single drop is the sacred water of the Ganges. We shall live for it, and we shall die for it. And after our passing, when our ashes are immersed in the waters of the Ganges, lean in closely and listen; you will hear the resounding cry; ‘Victory to Mother India!'”
Today, the BJP is not merely a political party; it has become the very hope of the masses. Global leadership of the calibre of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a skilled strategist like Amit Shah, and a simple, approachable leader like Nitin Navin, combined with an exemplary organisational structure and a team of selfless, dedicated, and rare-to-find workers, distinguishes the BJP from every other political party in the world.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi states, “In the political sphere, we are an organization-based political party. Our organization is worker-centric, and our workers are ideology-driven.” It is the sheer strength of the BJP’s ideology that this journey of nationalism, which commenced in 1951, continues to flow ceaselessly, having withstood countless obstacles and turbulent storms. In India, the BJP is the only political party that has never split; furthermore, it is the only party whose origins do not lie in the Congress.
In India, the affairs of almost every other political party are controlled by one family or another; the BJP, however, is not the private property of any single family. Consequently, it is often said that the BJP is not merely a party, but a family, for its workers do not toil for the sake of a specific family, but rather work within the party with a genuine spirit of kinship. On this Foundation Day of the BJP, it is also essential to pay tribute to all those eminent figures who, over these seven decades, led the Jana Sangh and subsequently the BJP, individuals who not only steered the organisation through the treacherous paths of politics but also meticulously structured and fortified it, thereby rendering it capable of leading the nation. Among those who led the Jana Sangh, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee (1951–52), Pandit Mauli Chandra Sharma (1954), Prem Nath Dogra (1955), Acharya Dev Prasad Ghosh (1956–59), Shri Pitambar Das (1960), Avasarala Rama Rao (1961), Acharya Dev Prasad Ghosh (1962), Shri Raghuvira (1963), Acharya Dev Prasad Ghosh (1964), Bachhraj Vyas (1965), Shri Balraj Madhok (1966), Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (1967–68), Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1969–72), and Shri Lal Krishna Advani (1973–77) served as National Presidents, thereby giving the Bharatiya Jana Sangh an All-India character.
The founding members of the BJP included Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Nanaji Deshmukh, KR Malkani, Sikander Bakht, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Shanta Kumar, and Jagannathrao Joshi.
The National Presidents of the BJP have included Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1980–86), Lal Krishna Advani (1986–1991, 1993–98, 2004–05), Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi (1991–93), Kushabhau Thakre (1998–2000), Bangaru Laxman (2000–2001), K Jana Krishnamurthi (2001–2002), M. Venkaiah Naidu (2002–04), Rajnath Singh (2005–09, 2013–14), Nitin Gadkari (2009–13), and Amit Shah (2014–20). Jagat Prakash Nadda (2020 to 2025) and, currently, Nitin Naveen. As a result of this exemplary leadership and the tireless efforts of millions of dedicated workers, the BJP has today emerged as the largest political party—not only in India but in the entire world firmly resolved to establish India as a global leader.
India’s cultural values, our ‘Panch Nishthas’ (Five Commitments), and the unwavering resolve to attain India’s ultimate glory coupled with the self-confidence that we shall achieve these through our own diligence and effort—imbue BJP workers with a unique vigor. If one were to encapsulate the BJP’s ideology in a single phrase, that phrase would be “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” (Victory to Mother India); indeed, these very words serve as the life mantra for the BJP’s millions of workers. In his inaugural address following his assumption of office as the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nitin Naveen highlighted the distinctive characteristics of the party to the workers, stating: “The Bharatiya Janata Party is no ordinary political organisation; rather, it is an ideology—a guiding principle with which its workers align themselves to carry out their work.
It is an ideology wherein political expression is inextricably linked with the guiding principle of ‘Nation First.’ ‘Nation First, Party Next, and Self Last’, it is with this very slogan that Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has united everyone. His leadership has provided the workers with a clear direction: that all endeavours must be advanced by prioritising the Nation above all else. Workers must draw inspiration from the struggles and sacrifices of their leaders, for this represents a political tradition where power is not a means for self-gratification, but an act of renunciation; where politics is not about indulgence, but about penance; and where holding a political office is not merely about status, but about assuming a profound responsibility. Let every worker align themselves with the diligence and dedication of their leaders, embracing this solemn resolve. If the Bharatiya Janata Party stands today as the world’s largest political organisation, the primary credit goes to its inspiring leadership, its robust ideology, and the sheer hard work of millions of dedicated workers. These are the very workers who toil ceaselessly, without seeking any publicity; who, even in the most arduous circumstances, never allow India’s flag to droop; and who proudly proclaim: ‘May Your Glory Endure Forever, O Mother whether we, Your children, remain for a few fleeting days or not.” The late Surendra Dubey- a senior leader of the Chhattisgarh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a renowned national poet honored with the Padma Shri, often used to say: “I seek nothing from the BJP; rather, I desire the BJP itself until my very last breath!” It is precisely this spirit of dedication toward the organization on the part of its workers that distinguishes the BJP from other political parties, making it truly a “party with a difference.” It is a certainty that, in the times to come, India will assume the mantle of global leadership, and the Bharatiya Janata Party will serve as the very foundation upon which this future is built.
