Due to its extensive membership base, India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds the illustrious distinction of being the largest political party in the world. 

The BJP, which has a sizable number of millions of registered members, wields an unmatched power that extends beyond Indian politics and has a profound impact on a wide range of international issues. 

The influence of this political titan goes far beyond the Indian subcontinent, fundamentally altering the dynamics and rhetoric of global concerns. In this story, we explore the many facets of the BJP’s global influence and analyze the crucial part it plays in global affairs.

In this article, we shall discuss the world’s 15 largest political parties.

List of Top 15 Political Parties in the World

1.       Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

The BJP, which has its origins in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has developed into India’s most powerful political movement. The party is able to maintain national power because of the overwhelming support for its ideology, which is sometimes described as Hindu nationalist.

Due to a number of variables, including superior electoral techniques, careful preparation, dedication, and a voter outreach campaign that was far superior to those of its competitors, the BJP has been able to broaden its political base throughout the nation.

The party was transformed from a cadre-driven one under Modi-Shah’s leadership into a mass-based one.

The focus of the party is on emerging leaders. Relatively obscure and low-profile people have been chosen as chief ministers in states where the BJP has won the legislative elections. The majority of them were chosen by the prime minister and are thought to be devoted to him. These new leaders are all ardent Hindutva supporters, whether they are in the administration or the party. All non-RSS members who joined the party during the Vajpayee-Advani era have been ignored or driven out. 

2.       Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

The CCP was established in 1921 and currently has almost 100 million members, making it the largest political party in the world. It has a significant impact on China’s political, economic, and social environment.

CCP’s objectives include bolstering national defense. “Absolute leadership over” the People’s Liberation Army of China should belong to the Chinese Communist Party. It also promotes the one country, two systems model for Macau and Hong Kong with a goal of “complete national reunification” in the future and advocates for Taiwan to adhere to the One-China policy and 1992 Consensus.

The one-China concept is understood to suggest that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government authorized to speak on behalf of the entire country.  15-Aug-2022

3.       Indian National Congress (INC)

The INC, a former adversary of the BJP, played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence. It has grown over time into a complex political movement that supports several social and economic causes.

The once-dominant party in India has lost some long-time key members. The Gandhi family has been in charge of the nation for fifty years, but it hasn’t managed to reinvent itself, becoming more and more centralized.

According to some commentators, the BJP’s win in 2014 signaled the INC’s demise. It only won 52 seats out of the 542 available in the Lok Sabha, the Indian government’s lower chamber, in 2019.

Instead of focusing on the issues facing the nation, the party’s narrative centers on the Gandhi family.

4.      United Russia

United Russian politics are dominated by United Russia, which backs President Vladimir Putin and controls a majority in the State Duma, making it the country’s dominant party.

The philosophy of the party has fluctuated, although it accepts several politicians and bureaucrats who have different political philosophies but support Putin. Political scientists sometimes categorize the party as a “big-tent party” or a “party of power” since it primarily appeals to pro-Putin and non-ideological voters, making it the most significant political force in Russia. It declared Russian conservatism to be its official philosophy in 2009.

Vladimir Putin received a lot of support during Russia’s heavily criticized regional and municipal elections, which were held in four eastern territories that had been acquired from Ukraine.

The seven-day election, which ended on Sunday, was marred by accusations of vote-rigging and Ukraine’s attempt to retake its former regions.

According to state-run news agencies, Putin’s United Russia party received more than 70% of the vote in each of the war-torn areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson in Ukraine, according to data released by Moscow and proxy authorities.

5.       Republican Party – United States

The Republicans are one of the two major political parties in the country, and they support conservative social values, free market principles, and little government action.

The Republican Party, sometimes known as the GOP (the “Grand Old Party”), is one of the two main modern political parties in the United States. The two parties have dominated American politics ever since it first emerged as the Democratic Party’s principal political adversaries in the middle of the 1850s.

6.       Democratic Party – United States

The Democratic Party has produced several American presidents, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden. It is renowned for its progressive attitudes toward social problems and focuses on government action.

Over the course of its more than 200-year history, the Democratic Party has seen substantial development.

7.       National Congress Party (NCP) – India

The NCP, a key force in Indian politics, places a strong emphasis on social justice, secularism, and inclusive government.

According to its own self-description, the NCP is a “millennial party with a modern and progressive orientation” with the ideologies of “holistic democracy,” “Gandhian secularism,” and “federalism-based national unity.” It has urged the creation of a democratic, secular society wedded to equality and social justice.”

8.       Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK)—North Korea

WPK upholds the Juche doctrine and places a strong emphasis on the Kim dynasty’s rule and self-reliance.

The party congress, which is presided over by an elected Central Committee, is the KWP’s supreme body. Party congresses are supposed to take place every five years, although in reality this rule was only followed through the Fifth Party Congress (1970); a Sixth Party Congress was held a decade later, but a Seventh Party Congress wasn’t conducted until Kim Jong-Un took office in 2016. The Political Bureau of the party controls its policy. The WKP oversees elections and compiles lists of authorized candidates.

9.       Nationalist Party (KMT)—Taiwan

Since its founding in 1912, the KMT has been a major force in Taiwanese politics, pushing for greater relations to China’s mainland.

A Chinese political party known as the Kuomintang (KMT) governed the mainland from 1927 to 1949 before moving to Taiwan as a result of the Chinese Civil War. The party was once known as the Chinese Nationalists and goes by the moniker “China’s National People’s Party.”

10.   African National Congress (ANC) – South Africa

The ANC is the country’s current ruling party and was at the forefront of the fight against apartheid. It advocates for economic and social justice.

A unified, non-racial, non-sexist, and democratic society is the main goal of the ANC. This refers to the emancipation of Black people in general and Africans in particular from political and economic servitude.  It entails improving everyone’s quality of life in South Africa, especially the underprivileged.

The ANC takes pleasure in being a diverse church and, like many powerful parties, resembles a catch-all party that accepts a variety of ideologies. Mandela said the following to the Washington Post in 1990:

11.   Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Pakistan’s main political force is called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The PTI has grown to be a dominant force in Pakistani politics. Imran Khan, a dynamic cricketer-turned-politician, founded PTI in 1996, and it has since developed into Pakistan’s biggest political party.

A testament to PTI’s capacity to galvanize a broad base behind a platform of justice, anti-corruption, and grassroots empowerment is the party’s quick ascent to become Pakistan’s largest political party.

12.   Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)—Japan

Promoting conservative economic policies and a close relationship with the United States, the LDP has dominated Japanese politics for the majority of the post-World War II era.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), sometimes known as Jimint or Jiy-Minshut, is a conservative and nationalist political party in Japan.

The party had a strong showing in the 2023 Japanese elections, winning more than half of the 2260 prefectural assembly seats as well as six governorship positions.

13.   Conservative Party – United Kingdom

The Conservatives are a significant political force in the UK, emphasizing free market principles, fiscal restraint, and a robust national defense.

According to what British Conservatives think, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland should all stay a part of the United Kingdom. Through the tax system, marriage should be promoted. An opportunity-based society should be produced through free markets and education.

Along with the Labour Party, the Conservative Party is one of the two major political parties in the United Kingdom. Officially known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, they are frequently referred to as the Tories. It has been the main ruling party in the United Kingdom since 2010, and it is currently in power after winning the general election in 2019.

14.   Christian Democratic Union (CDU) – Germany

The CDU, a major force in German politics, advocates for Christian principles, a social market economy, and cross-border cooperation.

The most senior elected official in Germany’s Christian Democratic Union is known as the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (Vorsitzender der Christlich Demokratischen Union). The position has been held by Friedrich Merz since January 31, 2022, when he took over for Armin Laschet.

Currently, the CDU is in opposition at the federal and governmental levels. In the past, it served as president of the United States from 1949 to 1969, 1982 to 1998, and 2005 to 2021. All three of Germany’s longest-serving post-World War II Chancellors—Helmut Kohl (1982–1998), Angela Merkel (2005–2021), and Konrad Adenauer (1949–1963)—have been members of the CDU. In addition, the party controls six of Germany’s sixteen state administrations.

15.   Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE)

The PSOE, a political party with social democratic roots that supports progressive social policies and European integration, has been a major player in Spanish politics.

In Spain, the PSOE is a social-democratic political party. The PSOE has held office longer than any other political party in contemporary democratic Spain: under Felipe González from 1982 to 1996, José Luis Rodrguez Zapatero from 2004 to 2011, and Pedro Sánchez from 2018.

Different Political Parties (According To Number Of Members)

• Bharatiya Janata Party has 180 million members
• Chinese Communist Party has 98.04 million registered members
• The Indian National Congress (INC) is in third place with 50 million members
• Democratic Party of the United States (DEM) is in fourth place with 47,130,651 members
• Republican Party (REP) is in fifth place with 36,019,694 members
• All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is ranked sixth with 20,044,400 members
• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is ranked seventh with 20,000,000 members
• With 11,241,230 members, the Justice and Development Party (AKO) of Turkiye is in eighth place
• Prosperity Party of Ethiopia at number 9
• Aam Aadmi Party of India at number 10
• Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is ranked 11th with 10 million members
• The Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party of Tanzania is at number 12 with 8.4 Million members
• United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) is ranked number 13 with 7,632,606 members
• Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and India’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), both of which have 6.5 million members each

Why is the BJP the Most Popular Party in India?

In the midst of India’s economic crisis, the BJP won the 2014 general election and took control of the country. Massive corruption charges, decreasing economic development, severe inflation, and a pervasive feeling of “policy paralysis” plagued the ruling Indian National Congress or Congress Party.

Narendra Modi, the head of the BJP, portrayed himself as the ideal candidate at the ideal moment and location. Modi presided as Gujarat’s chief minister for more than a decade, during which time the state saw rapid growth and earned a reputation as an inviting place for business.

Modi’s campaign message to voters was straightforward: if he became prime minister, he would treat India the same way he treated Gujarat. He had a captivating life narrative, having been born into a low-caste family with meager circumstances, and was a talented public speaker.

Since 2014, Modi has had success molding the party to fit his own vision. In order to increase the party’s electoral presence at the state level, he has also used his aspirational agenda.

There are at least two areas in which the BJP is different from other Indian political parties.

The Hindutva issue comes first. The majority of political parties in India declare themselves to be secular, holding that no religion should be given a competitive edge over others.

Secularism in India refers to the government’s equal acceptance of and separation from all religious traditions. As in the US and Europe, it does not imply a tight division between religion and state.

In economics, there is a second apparent distinction. The BJP has a history of supporting policies that are more pro-business than those of its rivals, who favor a more center-left, social democratic stance. It opposed some of the Congress Party’s most important social welfare programs when it was in opposition as being excessively expensive and socialist.

Conclusion

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s status as the world’s largest political party not only attests to its substantial growth and influence but also underscores the diverse array of political entities shaping the global political arena. To grasp the intricacies of contemporary international politics, one must familiarize themselves with such parties and delve into their ideological underpinnings. 

These influential political organizations, spanning various nations and regions, play a pivotal role in shaping policies, mobilizing citizens, and driving socio-political transformations on a global scale. Familiarity with their objectives, strategies, and historical trajectories is indispensable for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted dynamics that define the modern political landscape.

There is little question that the BJP has changed over the past five years, becoming a nearly unrecognizable political machine. The party’s quick growth, which led to its current pan-Indian prominence, has also introduced a new set of difficulties. Questions regarding the current paradigm that has enabled the party to rule at the federal level and in 20 states may arise in the event of a potential election setback at the national level.

It is unclear if the Modi-Shah leadership’s reforms, which have helped the party establish its pan-Indian footprint, will remain the standard in the coming years. Or will a different set of circumstances necessitate its replacement? The outcome of the BJP’s chances in the next general elections might provide some information.

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