Janata Dal (United)
Janata Dal (United) (JD (U)) is a center-left political party in India, primarily influential in the eastern and northeastern regions, notably in Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh. Established in 2003 from a split within the original Janata Dal, JD (U) emerged as a significant force in state and national politics. The party's ideology is rooted in socialism, secularism, and integral humanism, drawing inspiration from Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. JD (U) gained prominence by addressing issues faced by marginalized communities and has campaigned for reforms in health care, education, and economic development.
Throughout its history, JD (U) has formed coalitions, particularly with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), although this relationship has been complex, marked by periods of both collaboration and tension. The party uses the Arrow as its election symbol to signify unity. With a commitment to combating caste-based discrimination and improving societal conditions, JD (U) has sought to create a more inclusive political landscape. The party's growing influence is evident in its recent electoral successes and its recognition as a state party in multiple regions, reflecting its evolving role in Indian politics.
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Janata Dal (United)
Janata Dal (United)(JD (U)) is a center-left political party that holds power primarily in eastern and northeastern India. Founded in 2003 following a split with the original Janata Dal party, JD (U) is a recognized state party in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Manipur and is among the largest political parties in the first two. The party is also involved in national politics and has a presence in India’s central government. JD (U) was a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from 2017 to 2022. In 2022, the party withdrew its support for NDA in all areas except Bihar.
JD (U)’s political ideology is based on the philosophical teachings of Indian activists like Mahatma Gandhi. As such, its major tenets include socialism, secularism, and integral humanism. By the late 2010s, JD (U) had made significant strides toward increasing its presence on the national political scene and earning official national party status.
Background
The history of JD (U) began in 1977 with the founding of the Janata Party. The Janata Party was a group of smaller parties that united in opposition to the Indian National Congress (Congress Party), which was then led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Under the direction of V.P. Singh, who was himself about to become prime minister, the Janata Party merged with two other parties in 1988 to form Janata Dal (JD). After going through a number of splits and divisions during the 1990s, JD threw its support behind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 1999. One faction within the JD remained opposed to joining the NDA, however, and soon split off to form a new party called Janata Dal (Secular). With that, the remaining portion of JD became known as JD (U). In 2003, JD (U) merged with the Samata Party to officially form the modern version of JD (U).
After its 2003 re-formation, JD (U) embarked on a concerted campaign to fight back against the dominant rise of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Party in Bihar. On the strength of its left-leaning ideologies and political policies, JD (U) quickly grew in popularity among lower-caste Hindus and the local Muslim minority who previously supported the RJD. When its candidates appeared on Bihar election ballots for the first time in February 2005, JD (U) won the second-largest number of seats. With the RJD subsequently unable to form a government, a second election was held several months later. Ultimately, JD (U) and the BJP formed a coalition government. On the heels of its successful first term in Bihar, JD (U) picked up even more seats in the 2010 assembly elections and again formed a coalition government with the BJP.
Elsewhere, JD (U) also began to make inroads in other states and in the national government. The party won six seats in the 2005 Jharkhand assembly elections and twenty seats in the Lok Sabha – the lower house of India’s national parliament – in 2009.
Overview
JD (U) is a regional Indian political party that is formally recognized as a State party in Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Manipur. All recognized political parties in India must choose and use an election symbol that is approved by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The election symbol used by JD (U) is known as the Arrow. Originally the symbol of the undivided Janata Dal party, the Arrow appears on the middle white strip of a green and white flag. As used by JD (U), the Arrow is meant to represent unity within the party.
The party is designated as center-left, which means that the political views it espouses are generally moderate, but left-leaning. JD (U) specifically adheres to the political ideologies of socialism, secularism, and integral humanism. Many of the beliefs held by JD (U) party members are inspired by the teachings of such highly respected Indian activists as Mahatma Gandhi, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, and Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. As such, JD (U) is deeply committed to addressing the problems facing the common people of India, especially those who find themselves positioned on the lowest rungs of Indian society. JD (U) party members believe that all citizens should have an equal opportunity to thrive and advocate the creation of a lasting community. JD (U) also advocates the spread of Gandhian socialism and supports the principles of decentralized economic and political power. While JD (U) is opposed to the concept of theocracy, it does not support any form of religious discrimination.
JD (U) has accomplished a great deal over the course of its relatively short history. Among other things, JD (U) has made great strides in its efforts to promote caste-ridden politics in parts of India where the traditional caste system is still deeply entrenched and where some members of society are marginalized as a result. A caste system is one in which one’s social class is determined at birth and dictate’s one’s occupation and interaction or exclusion in society for life. JD (U)’s campaign to reduce crime rates in Bihar and Jharkhand have also met with some success. In addition, JD (U) has contributed to key improvements in health care and education, and has worked toward boosting Bihar’s economy by making the state more attractive to corporations and foreign investors.
One of JD (U)’s biggest concerns in the early 2010s was its continued relationship with the BJP, which was known for its specifically pro-Hindu and anti-Muslim stances. JD (U) leaders worried that association with the BJP could hurt the support their party enjoyed among Bihar’s Muslim voters. As part of its effort to demonstrate that it was not strictly in line with the BJP, JD (U) openly opposed the BJP’s nomination of Narendra Modi for prime minister ahead of the then-upcoming 2014 elections. Growing animosity with the BJP led JD (U) to leave the NDA in June 2013 before eventually returning in August 2017.
Even after JD (U)’s return to the NDA, its relationship with the BJP remained strained. Tensions between the two parties led JD (U) to announce in June 2019 that it would no longer be part of the NDA outside of Bihar. This announcement coincided with a notable uptick in the JD (U)’s political power beyond its traditional base. That same month, the party won seven seats in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly elections and became a formally recognized state party in that region. The year overall proved a good year for the party with the JD (U) securing 16 seats in the Lok Sabha. In the Manipur assembly elections of 2019 the JD (U) won six seats and caused a stir when five of its members switched allegiances to the BJP, and its remainder lone member withdrew from the NDA and joined INDIA bloc in August 2022. The member eventually rejoined the NDA, but relationships remained strained. In 2025, the JD (U) officially withdrew their support from the BJP-led government in Manipur.
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