Janata Party

The Janata Party was an Indian political party, formed in 1977 through the fusion of four major opposition parties, namely the Bharatiya Lok Dal, Indian National Congress (Organisation), Bharatiya Jan Sangh and the Socialist Party. JP was to form the first non-Congress government in independent India. Winning in the elections called after the end of Indira Gandhi's widely unpopular period of Emergency rule, they chose veteran politician and former Deputy Prime Minister Morarji Desai to be India's Prime Minister. In 1979, Morarji Desai lost support and Charan Singh was chosen as the second Janata Party Prime Minister. In 1980, fresh elections were held, returning the Indian National Congress to power. The Janata Party split up several times over the next few years. Those members who had formerly been members of the Jan Sangh formed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and another group formed the Janata Dal.

External link

• Party website