Bharatiya Lok Dal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Dissolved | 1977 |
| Preceded by | Bharatiya Kranti Dal Samyukta Socialist Party Swatantra Party Utkal Congress |
| Merged into | Janata Party |
| Ideology | Anti-Indira Gandhi[1] |
| Political position | Centre-left[2] |
Bharatiya Lok Dal (transl. Indian Peoples' Party) was apolitical party in India. TheBLD, or simplyBL, was formed at the end of 1974 through the fusion of seven parties opposed to the rule ofIndira Gandhi, including theSwatantra Party, theSamyukta Socialist Party, theUtkal Congress and theBharatiya Kranti Dal. The leader of the BLD wasCharan Singh.[3]
In 1977, the BLD combined with theJan Sangh and theIndian National Congress (Organization) to form theJanata Party. The newly formed Janata Party contested the1977 elections on the BLD symbol and formed independent India's first government not ruled by theIndian National Congress.[4]
Despite a strong start, the Janata government began to wither as significant ideological and political divisions emerged. Through 1979, support for Morarji Desai had declined considerably due to worsening economic conditions as well as the emergence of allegations of nepotism and corruption involving members of his family. Protesting Desai's leadership, Charan Singh resigned and withdrew the support of his BLD. Desai also lost the support of the secular and socialist politicians in the party, who saw him as favoring the Hindu nationalistBJS. On 19 July 1979 Desai resigned from the government. Dissidents projected Charan Singh as the new prime minister in place of Desai.[5][6][7][8]
PresidentNeelam Sanjiva Reddy appointed Charan Singh as the Prime Minister of a minority government on the strength of 64 MPs, calling upon him to form a new government and prove his majority. The departure of Desai and the BJS had considerably diminished Janata's majority, and numerous Janata MPs refused to support Charan Singh. MPs loyal toJagjivan Ram withdrew themselves from theJanata party. Former allies such as the DMK, Shiromani Akali Dal and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had distanced themselves from the Janata party. Desperately seeking enough support for a majority, Charan Singh even sought to negotiate with Congress (I), which refused. After only three weeks in office, Charan Singh resigned. With no other political party in position to establish a majority government, President Reddy dissolved the Parliament and called fresh elections for January 1980.[9]
After 1980 elections, Charan Singh came out of the Janata Alliance with his party and renamed it as Lok Dal.
Subsequently,Ajit Singh (son of Charan Singh) founded theRashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Now Lok Dal is led byChaudhary Sunil Singh ofAligarh.[10]
Swatantra, Utkal Congress and S.P.I. merged into Bharatiya Lok Dal.
When the Pragati Legislature Party was formed, the Utkal Congress became a constituent unit of it. In a meeting, on 17th August, 1974, the founder President of the UC party announced the decision of the party to merge with the B.L.D.
