National Democratic Alliance


The National Democratic Alliance is an Indian multi-party political alliance, led by the country's biggest political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party. It was founded on 15 May 1998. It currently has a majority in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, and controls the Government of India as well as the governments of 19 out of 28 Indian states and 2 out of 3 Union territories with legislative assemblies.
Its first chairman was then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee. L. K. Advani, the former Deputy Prime Minister, took over as chairman in 2004 and served until 2014, and Amit Shah has been the chairman since 2014. The coalition ruled from 1998 to 2004. The alliance returned to power in the 2014 general elections with a combined vote share of 38.5%. Its leader Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister of India on 26 May 2014. In the 2019 general election, the alliance further increased its tally to 353 seats with combined vote share of 45.43%. The alliance lost 60 seats in the 2024 general election, but retained enough to form a coalition government, a first in over 10 years. On 7 June 2024, Modi confirmed the support of 293 MPs to Droupadi Murmu, the President of India. This marked Modi's third term as Prime Minister and his first time heading a coalition government, with the Telugu Desam Party of Andhra Pradesh and Janata Dal (United) of Bihar emerging as two main allies.

History

The NDA was formed in May 1998 as a coalition to contest the general elections. The main aim of the NDA was to form an anti-Indian National Congress coalition. It was led by the BJP, and included several regional parties, including the Samata Party and the AIADMK, as well as Shiv Sena, but Shiv Sena broke away from the alliance in 2019 to join the Maha Vikas Aghadi with Congress and the [Nationalist Indian National Congress|Congress Party|NCP]. Samata Party also broke away from alliance in 2003 after formation of Janta Dal (United). The Shiv Sena was the only member which shared the Hindutva ideology of the BJP. After the election, it was able to muster a slim majority with outside support from the Telugu Desam Party, allowing Atal Bihari Vajpayee to return as prime minister.
The government collapsed within a year because the J. Jayalalithaa's AIADMK withdrew its support. After the entry of a few more regional parties, the NDA proceeded to win the 1999 elections with a larger majority. Vajpayee became Prime Minister for a third time, and this time served a full five-year term.
The NDA called elections in early 2004, six months ahead of schedule. Its campaign was based around the slogan of "India Shining" which attempted to depict the NDA government as responsible for a rapid economic transformation of the country. However, the NDA suffered a defeat, winning only a 186 seats in the Lok Sabha, compared to the 222 of the United Progressive Alliance led by the Congress, with Manmohan Singh succeeding Vajpayee as prime minister. Commentators have argued that the NDA's defeat was due to a failure to reach out to the rural masses. The scenario however changed quickly with the rise of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi who went on to become India's PM from 2014 onwards.

Structure

The National Democratic Alliance does not have a formal governing structure such as an executive board or politburo. It has been up to the leaders of the individual parties to make decisions on issues such as sharing of seats in elections, allocation of ministries and the issues that are raised in Parliament. Given the varied ideologies among the parties, there have been many cases of disagreement and split voting among the allies.
Owing to ill health, George Fernandes, who was the NDA convener until 2008, was discharged of his responsibility and replaced by Sharad Yadav, the then national president of the JD(U) political party. On 16 June 2013, the JD left the coalition and Sharad Yadav resigned from the role of the NDA convener. Then the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu was made the NDA convener. Later in 2018, after the withdrawal of TDP from NDA the post of convenor was vacant. However NDA allies like LJP demanded the appointment of a convenor in 2019 for better coordination of the allies.
On 27 July 2017 JD with the help of BJP formed the government in Bihar. Later, on 19 August 2017 JD formally rejoined the NDA after 4 years.
List of chairmans
  1. Atal Bihari Vajpayee - 1998 to 2004
  2. L. K. Advani - 2004 to 2014
  3. Amit Shah - 2014 to Till date
List of convenors
  1. George Fernandes - 1998 to 2008
  2. Sharad Yadav - 2008 to 2013
  3. N. Chandrababu Naidu - 2013 to 2018

Governments

The BJP has previously been the sole party in power in Jharkhand. It has also ruled Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab as part of coalition and alliance governments.
The NDA has never been in power in 3 states – Kerala, Telangana, and West Bengal. But BJP led NDA has ruled many local governing institutions including corporations, municipalities, panchayats and has also been elected to many Lok Sabha constituencies, state assembly constituencies and local body divisions and wards in these 3 states.

Strength in legislative assemblies

The following is a list of the current number of Members of Legislative Assembly from the BJP as well as other political parties in the NDA in each of the 28 Indian states and 3 Union territories with legislative assemblies. The NDA currently holds a majority of the seats in 19 states and two Union territories, out of which the BJP on its own holds a majority of the seats in 13 states and one Union territory.
State/UTTotalBJPNDA Overall NDA Tally fromLast Election
Andhra Pradesh1758 [Telugu Desam Party|Telugu Desam Party|TDP]2024
Andhra Pradesh1758 TDP2024
Arunachal Pradesh6046 BJP2024
Arunachal Pradesh6046 BJP2024
Arunachal Pradesh6046 BJP2024
Arunachal Pradesh6046 BJP2024
Assam12667 BJP2021
----[2021 Assam Legislative Assembly|Assam Legislative Assembly election|2021]
----2021
Bihar24389 JD(U)2025
-----2025
-----2025
-----2025
Chhattisgarh9054NoneBJP[2023 2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2023]
Delhi7048NoneBJP2025
Goa4027 BJP[2022 Goa Legislative Assembly|Goa Legislative Assembly election|2022]
Goa4027 BJP2022
Gujarat182162 BJP2022
Haryana9048 BJP2024
Himachal Pradesh6828NoneINC2022
Jammu and Kashmir9029NoneJKNC[2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2024]
Jharkhand8121 JMM2024
-----2024
-----2024
Karnataka22463 INC2023
Kerala1400NoneCPI(M)2021
Madhya Pradesh230165NoneBJP2023
Maharashtra288131 BJP2024
Maharashtra288131 BJP2024
Maharashtra288131 BJP2024
Maharashtra288131 BJP2024
Maharashtra288131 BJP2024
Maharashtra288131 BJP2024
Maharashtra288131 BJP2024
Manipur6037 President Rule2022
Manipur6037 President Rule2022
Manipur6037 President Rule2022
Manipur6037 President Rule2022
Meghalaya602 NPP2023
Meghalaya602 NPP2023
Meghalaya602 NPP2023
Meghalaya602 NPP2023
Mizoram402NoneZPM2023
Nagaland6011 NPF2023
Nagaland6011 NPF2023
Nagaland6011 NPF2023
Nagaland6011 NPF2023
Nagaland6011 NPF2023
Odisha14779 BJP[2024 2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2024]
Puducherry339 AINRC2021
-----2021
Punjab1172NoneAAP2022
Rajasthan200118 BJP2023
---BJP2023
---BJP2023
Sikkim320 SKM[2024 2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2024]
Tamil Nadu2344 DMK2021
Tamil Nadu2344 DMK2021
Telangana1198NoneINC[2023 2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2023]
Tripura6032 BJP[2023 2023 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2023]
Tripura6032 BJP2023
Uttar Pradesh403257 BJP2022
Uttar Pradesh403257 BJP2022
Uttar Pradesh403257 BJP2022
Uttar Pradesh403257 BJP2022
Uttarakhand7047NoneBJP2022
West Bengal29465NoneAITC2021
Total4,1261,656716NDA

List of presidents

Note that it refers to nomination by alliance, as the offices of President are apolitical.

List of vice presidents

Note that it refers to nomination by alliance, as the offices of Vice President are apolitical.

List of chief ministers and deputy chief ministers

List of chief ministers

S.NoStateNamePortraitCabinet-
1.Andhra PradeshN. Chandrababu NaiduNaidu IV
2.Arunachal PradeshPema KhanduKhandu V
3.AssamHimanta Biswa SarmaSarma
4.BiharNitish KumarNitish Kumar X
5.ChhattisgarhVishnu Deo SaiSai
6.DelhiRekha GuptaGupta
7.GoaPramod SawantSawant II
8.GujaratBhupendrabhai PatelPatel II
9.HaryanaNayab Singh SainiSaini II
10.Madhya PradeshMohan Yadav[Mohan Mohan Yadav ministry|Yadav ministry|Yadav]
11.MaharashtraDevendra FadnavisFadnavis III
12.MeghalayaConrad SangmaSangma II
13.NagalandNeiphiu RioRio V
14.OdishaMohan Charan MajhiMajhi
15.PuducherryN. RangaswamyRangaswamy IV
16.RajasthanBhajan Lal SharmaSharma
17.SikkimPrem Singh TamangTamang II
18.TripuraManik SahaSaha II
19.Uttar PradeshYogi AdityanathYogi Adityanath II
20.UttarakhandPushkar Singh DhamiDhami II

List of current speakers

State Legislative Councils

This is the list of current Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the legislative councils of the Indian states:

Legislative Assemblies

This is the list of current Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the legislative assemblies of the Indian states and union territories:

List of opposition leaders

State Legislative Councils

This is the list of current opposition leaders in the legislative councils of the Indian states:

State Legislative Assemblies

This is the list of current opposition leaders in the legislative assemblies of the Indian states and union territories:

Member parties

As of March 2025, there are 39 political parties that are members of the alliance. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the National People's Party are the only two political parties being recognised by the Election Commission of India as national parties. Other parties in the alliance are either recognised as state level parties or unrecognised parties.

Electoral history

Lok Sabha 2014 general election

Contested on BJP symbol lotus

Lok Sabha 2019 general election

Contested on AIADMK two leaves symbol

Lok Sabha 2024 general election

Contested by BJP symbol lotus

Timeline

1999

2004

2009

2011

2012

;Presidential election
;Vice-Presidential election

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

  • On 7 January 2019, the AGP withdrew from the NDA and also from the Assam Government on the issue of citizenship amendment bill.
  • On 21 January 2019, the GJM withdrew from the NDA and extended the support to Mamata Banerjee.
  • On 19 February 2019, AIADMK and PMK rejoined NDA and BJP announced that "They will contest 5 Lok sabha seats in Tamil Nadu".
  • On 19 February 2019, Pattali Makkal Katchi rejoined NDA
  • BJP announced that "They will contest 5 Lok sabha seats in Tamil Nadu".
  • On 10 March 2019, DMDK rejoined NDA.
  • On 8 March 2019 in Sikkim, BJP joined hands with opposition party SKM
  • On 12 March 2019 in Assam, BJP joined hands with old ally AGP
  • On 12 March 2019 in Maharashtra, Rayat Kranti Sanghatana is a part of NDA
  • On 25 March 2019 in Tamil Nadu, Puthiya Needhi Katchi is a part of Alliance
  • On 4 April 2019 in Rajasthan, BJP joined hands with the RLP
  • On 5 April 2019 in Uttar Pradesh, Nishad Party joined hands with NDA
  • On 23 May 2019 NDA won the 2019 Indian General election with record breaking 352 seats with its allys
  • In May 2019, NDA lost state elections of Andhra Pradesh & Odisha
  • In May 2019, NDA won the state elections of Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim.
  • On 25 October 2019 in Haryana,
JJP joined hands with NDA to forming a stable government at Haryana with BJP
Shiv Sena exited from the NDA, as BJP was not willing to agree for Sharing CM Post with Shiv Sena to form government in Maharashtra.
  • In November 2019, NDA won the state election of Haryana
  • In November 2019, NDA lost the state election of Maharashtra
  • On 15 November 2019 in Jharkhand,
BJP, AJSU sever ties in Jharkhand days before Assembly elections 2019.
  • On 23 November 2019 in Maharashtra, NCP (Ajit Pawar Faction) joined NDA, Ajit Pawar took oath as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister.
  • On 26 November 2019 in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar resigns as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister. With immediate effect Devendra Fadnvis also resigns from the post of CM of Maharashtra. His term becomes the shortest term as Maharashtra's Chief Minister.
  • In December 2019, NDA lost the state election of Jharkhand.

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

  • On 28 January 2024, Nitish Kumar led Janata Dal (United) rejoined NDA by quitting Mahagathbandhan and I.N.D.I.A. Alliance. It formed a coalition government with Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar with Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers from BJP.
  • On 8 February 2024, Nationalist Congress Party officially enters the alliance after Election Commission of India recognitions it to be the legitimate party over the Sharad Pawar led faction.
  • On 9 February 2024, Rashtriya Lok Dal led by Jayant Singh entered the alliance after securing deal of two Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh with BJP.
  • On 7 March 2024, Tipra Motha Party joined NDA and two ministers sworn in Tripura Government.
  • On 9 March 2024, TDP rejoined the NDA, forming a three-party coalition colloquially referred to in Telugu as [Kutami|] comprising the BJP, Janasena Party and Telugu Desam Party. As part of the arrangement, the TDP and Janasena contested 17 and 2 seats, respectively in the general elections, and 144 and 21 seats, respectively in the Andhra Pradesh state legislative assembly elections.
  • On 4 June, NDA made a record breaking victory in the 2024 Indian general election as the alliance recorded its third consecutive victory. NDA also made a record breaking victory in the decisive states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha, where it defeated the incubment BJD government, which was in power for the last 24 years.
  • In October 2024, NDA made a record breaking victory in the decisive state of Haryana, routing the Congress. The NDA lost in Jammu and Kashmir, though it managed to increase its seats and garner the most votes. It did particularly well in Jammu region.
  • In November 2024, NDA made a record breaking landslide victory in the decisive state of Maharashtra, routing the Congress led alliance. The NDA lost in Jharkhand.

2025