In the early years there was a lot of mutual respect between the leaders of the Congress and those of the opposition. The interim government that ruled the country after the declaration of Independence and the first general election included opposition leaders like Dr. Ambedkar and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in the cabinet. Jawaharlal Nehru often referred to his fondness for the Socialist Party and invited socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan to join his government.

Which of the following were the major opposition parties during the first general election in India?

(i) Socialist Party
(ii) Bhartiya Janta Party
(iii) Communist Party of India
(iv) Bharatiya Jana Sangh

(i), (iii) and (iv) only

Major opposition parties during the first general election in India were:
(i) Socialist Party
(ii) Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party
(iii) Communist Party of India
(iv) Bharatiya Jana Sangh etc.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) traces its roots to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Bharatiya Janata Party was formed in 1980. It did not participate in the first General election.