After the fall of the Janata Party and its break-up, the supporters of the erstwhile Jana Sangh formed the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) in 1980. Initially, the BJP adopted a broader political platform than that of the Jana Sangh. It embraced ‘Gandhian Socialism’ as its ideology. But it did not get much success in the elections held in 1980 and 1984. After 1986, the party began to emphasize the Hindu nationalist element in its ideology. The BJP pursued the politics of ‘Hindutva’ and adopted the strategy of mobilizing the Hindus.

Expand VHP in relation to Indian politics.

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)

BJP along with many other organisations like the RSS and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) convened a series of symbolic and mobilisational programmes against the Babri mosque.

Collaborating with entities such as the RSS and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the BJP orchestrated a series of symbolic and mobilization-driven initiatives. This widespread mobilization fueled a charged atmosphere and gave rise to numerous instances of communal violence. In a bid to garner public backing, the BJP embarked on a large-scale march named the Rathyatra, commencing from Somnath in Gujarat and culminating in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.