The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is a political coalition in India formed in 1998 under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It was created to bring together like-minded parties with a shared center-right, pro-development ideology. Over the years, various regional parties have joined and left the NDA, but BJP has always remained its core and most influential member.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA collectively won 293 seats, while the BJP alone secured 240—just short of the 272 needed for a simple majority. Despite this, BJP emerged as the single largest party in Parliament, and Narendra Modi was chosen once again as the Prime Minister by the alliance partners.

So why is it still called a BJP government even when it's technically an NDA government?
That’s because BJP dominates the coalition both numerically and strategically:

• It holds the majority of seats in the alliance.

• It controls key ministries like Home, Finance, Defence, and External Affairs.

• BJP leaders drive the policy direction, narrative, and leadership of the government.

Other NDA partners like JD(U), TDP, and LJP play supportive roles, but it is the BJP that steers the ship. Hence, in public discourse and media, the NDA government is often referred to simply as a BJP government, highlighting the party’s preeminence in leadership and governance.