Janata Party

Abbreviation

JNP

Founded

1977

Founder(s)

Merger of the Congress (O), Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Bharatiya Lok Dal and Socialist Party

Main base

All India

Formed in 1977 by opposition parties against the Emergency. It formed the first non-Congress government at the Centre, with Morarji Desai as Prime Minister. In the 1977 election its candidates contested on the Bharatiya Lok Dal (BLD) symbol.

Milestones

• 1977 Formed; wins general election (as BLD)
• 1979 Government falls after splits

Election record at a glance

• Contested 11 Lok Sabha general elections under this name, from 1962 to 2019.
• First won Lok Sabha seats in 1962 (3). Best result: 31 seats in 1980. Total seats won across all elections: 50.
• Highest vote share: 18.97% in 1980.
• In Tamil Nadu (Madras State before 1969) it has won 1 Lok Sabha seats in total; best: 1 in 1998.