<P> The Bharatiya Janata Party (pronounced (bɦaːrət̪iːjə dʒənət̪aː paːrʈiː) (listen); translation: Indian People's Party; abbr . BJP) is one of the two major political parties in India, along with the Indian National Congress . As of 2016, it is the country's largest political party in terms of representation in the national parliament and state assemblies, and it is the world's largest party in terms of primary membership . The BJP is a right - wing party, with close ideological and organisational links to the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh . </P> <P> The BJP's origins lie in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, formed in 1951 by Syama Prasad Mookerjee . After the State of Emergency in 1977, the Jana Sangh merged with several other parties to form the Janata Party; it defeated the incumbent Congress party in the 1977 general election . After three years in power, the Janata party dissolved in 1980 with the members of the erstwhile Jana Sangh reconvening to form the BJP . Although initially unsuccessful, winning only two seats in the 1984 general election, it grew in strength on the back of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement . Following victories in several state elections and better performances in national elections, the BJP became the largest party in the parliament in 1996; however, it lacked a majority in the lower house of Parliament, and its government lasted only 13 days . </P> <P> After the 1998 general election, the BJP - led coalition known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formed a government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for a year . Following fresh elections, the NDA government, again headed by Vajpayee, lasted for a full term in office; this was the first non-Congress government to do so . In the 2004 general election, the NDA suffered an unexpected defeat, and for the next ten years the BJP was the principal opposition party . Long time Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi led it to a landslide victory in the 2014 general election . Since that election, Modi has led the NDA government as Prime Minister and as of December 2017, the alliance governs 19 states . </P> <P> The official ideology of the BJP is "integral humanism", first formulated by Deendayal Upadhyaya in 1965 . The party expresses a commitment to Hindutva, and its policy has historically reflected Hindu nationalist positions . The BJP advocates social conservatism and a foreign policy centred on nationalist principles . Its key issues have included the abrogation of the special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the building of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and the implementation of a uniform civil code . However, the 1998--2004 NDA government did not pursue any of these controversial issues . It instead focused on a largely neoliberal economic policy prioritising globalisation and economic growth over social welfare . </P>

Who become the first president of the bharatiya janata party