Aam Aadmi Party 3.

63 per cent votes and secured 10

(AAP): Formed on seats in the Lok Sabha.
26 November 2012, Bharatiya Janata Party
following the 2011 (BJP): Founded in 1980
anti-corruption movement. The by reviving the erstwhile
party was founded on the idea of Bharatiya Jana Sangh,
accountability, clean administration, formed by Syama Prasad
transparency and good governance. Mukherjee in 1951. Wants to build a
In the year after its formation, AAP strong and modern India by drawing
emerged as the second largest party inspiration from India’s ancient
in the Delhi Legislative Assembly culture and values; and Deendayal
election. It formed a government Upadhyaya’s ideas of integral
with the support of Indian National humanism and Antyodaya. Cultural
Congress (INC). It also emerged nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’) is an
as the third front in the politics of important element in its conception
Gujarat after 2022 Gujarat Legislative of Indian nationhood and politics.
Wants full territorial and political
Assembly election. Presently, AAP
integration of Jammu and Kashmir
formed governments in Punjab and
with India, a uniform civil code
Delhi. In the Lok Sabha election held
for all people living in the country
in 2019, it secured one seat in the Lok irrespective of religion, and ban on
Sabha. religious conversions. Its support
Bahujan Samaj base increased substantially in the
Party (BSP): 1990s. Earlier limited to north and
Formed in 1984 west and to urban areas, the party
expanded its support in the south,
under the leadership of Kanshi
east, the north-east and to rural areas.
Ram. Seeks to represent and secure
Came to power in 1998 as the leader
power for the bahujan samaj which
of the National Democratic Alliance
includes the dalits, adivasis, OBCs (NDA) including several regional
and religious minorities. Draws parties. Emerged as the largest party
inspiration from the ideas and with 303 members in the 2019 Lok
teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Sabha elections. Currently leads
Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker the ruling NDA government at
and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Stands for the Centre.
the cause of securing the interests and
Communist Party
welfare of the dalits and oppressed
of India - Marxist
D e m o c ra t i c Po l i t i c s

people. It has its main base in the ( C P I - M ) : Fo unded

state of Uttar Pradesh and substantial in 1964. Believes
presence in neighbouring states like in Marxism-Leninism. Supports
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, socialism, secularism and
Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab. democracy and opposes imperialism
Formed government in Uttar and communalism. Accepts
Pradesh several times by taking democratic elections as a useful
the support of different parties at and helpful means for securing the
different times. In the Lok Sabha objective of socio-economic justice in
elections held in 2019, it polled about India. Enjoys strong support in West
2024-25
54

Chapter 4.indd 54 19/03/2024 10:50:20

 Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, especially its ideological orientation, the party
among the poor, factory workers, espouses secularism and welfare of
farmers, agricultural labourers and weaker sections and minorities. The
the intelligentsia. Critical of the new INC supports new economic reforms
economic policies that allow free flow but with a human face. Leader of the
of foreign capital and goods into the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
country. Was in power in West Bengal government from 2004 to 2019. In the
without a break for 34 years. In the 2019 2019 Lok Sabha election, it won 19.5%
Lok Sabha elections, it won about 1.75 votes and 52 seats.
per cent of votes and 3 seats.
National People’s Party
Indian National Congress
(NPP): Formed in July 2013
(INC): Popularly known
under the leadership of P.A
as the Congress Party. One
Sangma. NPP is the first
of the oldest parties of the
political party from North
world. Founded in 1885 and
East India to have attained
has experienced many splits. Played
a dominant role in Indian politics at the status of a national party. It
the national and state level for several believes in diversity of the country and
decades after India’s Independence. recognizes that different regions have
Under the leadership of Jawaharlal different developmental challenges.
Nehru, the party sought to build a The core philosophy of the party is
modern secular democratic republic in education and employment to all as
India. Ruling party at the centre till 1977 well as empowerment of all sections of
and then from 1980 to 1989. After 1989, the society. It formed government in
its support declined, but it continues Meghalaya and has presence in many of
to be present throughout the country, North Eastern States. In the Lok Sabha
cutting across social divisions. A centrist election held in 2019, NPP secured one
party (neither rightist nor leftist) in seat in the Lok Sabha.

State parties
Other than these seven parties, most Over the last three decades, the
of the major parties of the country are number and strength of these parties has
classified by the Election Commission expanded. This made the Parliament
as ‘State parties’. These are commonly of India politically more and more
referred to as regional parties. Yet diverse. No one national party is able
these parties need not be regional in to secure on its own a majority in the
their ideology or outlook. Some of Lok Sabha, until 2014. As a result, the
these parties are all India parties that national parties are compelled to form
happen to have succeeded only in alliances with State parties. Since 1996,
Po l i t i c a l Pa r t i e s

some states. Parties like the Samajwadi nearly every one of the State parties has
Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have got an opportunity to be a part of one
national level political organisation or the other national level coalition
with units in several states. Some of government. This has contributed to
these parties like Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim the strengthening of federalism and
Democratic Front, Mizo National democracy in our country. (See the
Front and Telangana Rashtra Samithi map on the next page for details of
are conscious about their State identity. these parties).
2024-25 55

Chapter 4.indd 55 02/04/2024 12:48:42