Introduction On 4th April, 1980 the National Executive of the Janata Party adopted a resolution prohibiting members of RSS to continue in the Janata Party. This resolution was sequel to the fears entertained by Chandrashekhar’s Group and a few Socialists who had not left the Janata Party when the split caused by Ch. Charan Singh took place and others that the erstwhile Jana Sangh would capture the party on account its mass base and large army of dedicated workers. This development was anticipated by leaders and workers of the Jana Sangh and RSS background in Janata Party. So they had asked Jana Sangh workers from all over the country to assemble at Delhi before the meeting of the National Executive of Janata Party and to be prepared for all eventualities. The resolution adopted by the National Executive of Janata Party was not acceptable to erstwhile Jana Sangh constituent and to several other leaders and persons in Janata Party who had no RSS background. The Jana Sangh constituent had sincerely worked towards the strengthening and smooth working of the Janata Party. Even though it constituted the largest single constituent of the Janata Party and had a larger popular base in the country it did not ask for proportionate share either in Janata Government or in Janata Party and was content with whatever was given to it. The Jana Sangh constituent wanted Janata Party to succeed and emerge as an alternative to Congress which had ruled the country for three decades prior to 1977. In this background, there was a feeling of regret and unhappiness as well as of good riddance and relief in the Jana Sangh 2 • Party Document Vol-10 workers. The condition imposed for membership of the Janata Party was unacceptable. No such condition was stipulated when the Janata Party was formed and this matter had been settled before the merger of the constituents to form Janata Party. This being raised at this stage was not for any genuine reason arising out of the manner in which Janata Party or Janata Government was functioning during 1977 to 1979, but for ulterior reason to control the party. RSS had not interfered in any manner either in the functioning of party or Government. Two days after, the adoption of this resolution the Jana Sangh workers held a Conference on April 6, 1980 at the Kotla ground in Delhi and decided to part company with Janata Party. The general mood was of unhappiness and of being forced to leave a party which had been formed under the inspiration of Jayaprakash Narayan with high hopes. There was, however, no alternative. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was, thus, launched on 6th April, 1980. The party had no organisation of its own but millions of erstwhile Jana Sangh workers were there and had to start from a scratch. The party had, however, able leadership with national standing. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had acquired a popularity and standing as a National Leader which went beyond the confines of the party. Even in the Jana Sangh period people had started considering him as a future Prime Minister of India. His performance as Foreign Minister in the Janata Party Government was considered an outstanding success and led to improvement of relations with all neighbors including Pakistan. During this period, the relations with United States of America were strengthened without in any manner jeopardising the traditional friendly relations with USSR. L.K. Advani had also the stature of a National Leader who was admired for his balance, maturity and caliber. He was the President of Jana Sangh during J.P.’s movement and when Emergency was declared. As an Information Minister and Leader of Rajya Sabha during Janata Government, he had acquired great reputation for his performance in the ministry and tactful handling and management of Government business in Rajya Sabha despite the fact that Janata Government was in minority in Rajya Sabha and Indira Gandhi’s Congress dominated this house. Evolution of BJP • 3 Besides these there was a galaxy of other leaders who worked with dedication selflessness and competence. These included Nanaji Deshmukh, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, S.S. Bhandari, K.R. Malkani, V.K. Malhotra, Kushabhau Thakre, Jana Krishnamurthi, Kidarnath Sahani, J.P. Mathur, Sundar Lal Patwa, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Shanta Kumar. Many eminent persons who had no RSS background such as Jethmalani, Shanti Bhushan and Sikander Bakht also joined the party. The leadership available to the party was a great asset. The party had also inherited a disciplined, dedicated and hard working cadre of workers from Jana Sangh. The band of workers available to the Bharatiya Janata Party was willing to face any challenge. Thus, the Bharatiya Janata Party started with able leadership and dedicated and disciplined cadre on its journey to become an alternative to Congress and to work for making India a developed and prosperous country not only in the material sense but also culturally and spiritually in keeping with its tradition and culture. Atal Bihari Vajpayee assumed the Presidentship of Bharatiya Janata Party and Shri L.K. Advani became the General Secretary. It was decided to convene a Plenary Session of the party in December, 1980. The period between April and December, 1980 was utilised for intense activity throughout the country to build the party. During this period, about 25 lakh members of BJP were enrolled. The plenary session of BJP was held at ‘Samata Nagar’ at Bombay on 28-30 December, 1980. L.K. Advani describes this convention as follows: “The Bombay Convention of the BJP has been universally acclaimed as a landmark in recent political history. It has evoked sharp comments from admirers and critics of the party alike. Veteran statesman Shri M.C. Chagla, has described the party as ‘a glimmer of hope’ in an otherwise very depressing situation. In a symposium titled ‘The Challenge of 1981’ published by Times of India’s Sunday Review (January 18, 1981), Chagla wrote that “there is just a glimmer of hope which is beginning to show itself and that is the extraordinary strength which this new party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has shown.... And if this party goes on from strength to strength and receives the support of people from all over the country we might at last have a democratic alternative to Indira’s Government.” 4 • Party Document Vol-10 There is hardly a paper or news magazine in the country which has omitted to comment on the BJP convention. Some of the excerpts from these are given below: The Indian Express, New Delhi in its editorial dated January 1, 1981 ‘successful session’ describes the convention as follows: “It will take sometime yet for any splintered branch of the former Janata Party to regain credibility as a viable alternative to the ruling party at the Centre. The historic opportunities frittered away by the perpetually bickering, self-centered senior leaders of the Government swept into office in March, 1977, by the popular reaction against the emergency imposed by Mrs. Gandhi are hard to forget or forgive. But judging by its session in Bombay, the Bharatiya Janata Party is beginning to fill the vacuum. The resolutions adopted and the principal speeches, particularly by Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, struck the right note. The large crowds attracted to the session also indicated a widening public desire to look for a replacement to the Congress-I. Particularly welcome are the BJP resolutions and clarifications by Mr. Vajpayee, on economic policy and foreign affairs. They reflected some of the most promising initiatives attempted by the Janata Government during its brief tenure. It is all very well for the Prime Minister to try to hit back at the ‘new Gandhian Socialists’. But they have struck a chord in the public memory precisely because the policies and behaviour of her Government shows no sign whatsoever of being influenced by the philosophy and moral approach of the Mahatma whose name she happens to bear. It was obviously not easy for Mr. Vajpayee to secure a commitment to ‘Gandhian Socialism’ in the face of opposition from the traditionalists in his own party. The BJP can help to restore a degree of non-aligned credibility to India’s foreign policy by campaigning against the tilt it has taken towards Moscow, especially in the wake of the soviet occupation of Afghanistan. It can work to restore the confidence of our neighbours in our respect for and commitment to their independence which the Janata Government tried to do. It can try to draw the country back from the rush towards a centralised, heavy industry dominated economy that has accelerated since Mrs. Gandhi came back to office. All these things were promised in Bombay. Claims were also made that the BJP had established a genuine party oganisation reaching Evolution of BJP • 5 down to the grass-roots. The failure to do so, after being constituted with the blessings of Jayaprakash Narayan, was the main factor responsible for the Janata Party being associated only with the clashing ambitions of the veteran trio at the top. If the BJP is really sincere about building up a democratic party structure and is able to avoid the temptation to play power politics before it is finally established, it may deserve the endorsement it has received from Mr. M.C. Chagla and other respected non-political leaders.” The Times of India in its editorial dated December 31, 1980 ‘BJP’s New Image’ writes: “The first All-India conference of the Bharatiya Janata Party which concluded in Bombay on Tuesday was, by any reckoning, an impressive show. The attendance of no less than 44,000 delegates, the memorable procession in which the Party President, Mr.