Genre: News > India

Aug 20, 2009: The BJP during its introspection meet in Shimla on Thursday analyzed reasons for the party's debacle during the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

 

Projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as Prime Minister at the last moment and Varun Gandhi's vitriolic attack on minorities during the Pilibhit speech were some of the reasons that damaged BJP's prospects.

---

 

Background

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was founded in 1980. Before BJP came into existence, this party was known as Bharatiya Jana Sangh that was originally founded by a nationalist leader Shyama Prasad Mookherje in 1951.  

BJP started its journey under the leadership of veteran leader and former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani. In 1989 BJP supported the Janata Dal party to form a coalition government at the center.

BJP has strong relation with the hardliner Hindu organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.  

Currently the party rules in Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.It has a coalition government in Uttarakhand with Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.

The party has declared Lal Krishna Advani as their Prime Ministerial candidate for 2009 Lok Sabha elections. 

---