AN OVERVIEW OF INDIA’s POLITICAL PARTIES (2025)
KNOWLEDGE ARTICLE Sayoni Roy KNOWLEDGE ARTICLE Sayoni Roy

AN OVERVIEW OF INDIA’s POLITICAL PARTIES (2025)

This article goes into the current political landscape of India by examining both national and major regional parties as of 2025. It begins with a brief overview of how India’s federal parliamentary democracy operates, then provides easy to read summaries of each party’s formation, ideology, key events, and leadership. The goal is to present the information in a neutral, factual, and accessible way which would be ideal for students, general readers, or anyone looking to understand India’s dynamic party system.

India’s Political System – A Snapshot

India is a federal parliamentary republic where power is shared between the central government and 28 states. The President is the ceremonial head of state, while the Prime Minister leads the executive. The Lok Sabha (Lower House) is directly elected, and parties or coalitions with a majority form the government. The system allows for both national parties that operate across the country and regional parties that hold sway in individual states (Election Commission of India, 2024).

1. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

  • Founded: 1980, as a successor to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh

  • Ideology: Hindutva (Hindu nationalism), conservative social values, and economic liberalism

  • Key Moments:

    • Rose to prominence in the 1990s through the Ram Janmabhoomi movement

    • Led national governments from 1998–2004 and since 2014 under Narendra Modi

  • Notable Figures: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah
    (Britannica, 2025)

2. Indian National Congress (INC)

  • Founded: 1885, the oldest political party in India

  • Ideology: Secular, centre-left, and pro-social welfare

  • Key Moments:

    • Led the independence movement under Mahatma Gandhi

    • Dominated post-independence politics until the late 1980s

    • Led the UPA coalition from 2004–2014 under Dr. Manmohan Singh

  • Notable Figures: Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge
    (Britannica, 2025)

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Burkina Faso’s Firebrand Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the Struggle for Sovereignty
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Burkina Faso’s Firebrand Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the Struggle for Sovereignty

Ibrahim Traoré is Burkina Faso's transitional leader who came to power through a military coup in September 2022⁠⁠. Born in 1988, he rose from a rural background to become a military officer, graduating from the University of Ouagadougou in 2009⁠⁠.

Key aspects of his leadership include:

Making security the top priority, particularly fighting jihadist insurgency that has displaced over 2 million people⁠⁠​

Implementing nationalist economic policies, including creating a state-owned mining company and requiring foreign mining firms to give 15% stake to Burkina Faso⁠⁠​

Shifting diplomatic ties away from France towards Russia, including joining a new alliance with Mali and Niger

While initially promising to return to civilian rule by 2024, he extended the transition period by five years in May 2024, citing ongoing security concerns⁠⁠. Despite criticism about democracy, he maintains relatively high approval ratings, especially in rural areas⁠⁠, presenting himself as a revolutionary leader fighting for Burkinabé interests.

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