Jai Prakash Janta Dal

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The Jai Prakash Janta Dal (JPJD) is an Indian political party inspired by Jayaprakash Narayan, known as Lok Nayak, who was a freedom fighter, reformer, thinker, and a leader who led opposition to Indira Gandhi in the mid-1970s.

JPJD aims to help ordinary people by protecting their constitutional rights and tackling economic, social, and political inequalities. It also works to reduce poverty, development gaps, and social discrimination. The party was registered by the Election Commission in 2002 and uses the Diesel Pump as its election symbol. It follows a right‑wing ideology aligned with JP Narayan’s vision.

Leadership and key figures:
- In 2013, Pankaj Sahay became the National President, with B.K. Singh serving as guiding head.
- In 2014, JPJD contested its first Lok Sabha elections under Pankaj Sahay, fielding seven parliamentary seats in Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir.
- The party headquarters are in New Delhi, at Pratap Nagar, Mayur Vihar Phase-1.
- Pankaj Sahay appointed Ankit Mehta as the state president for Gujarat. Ankit Mehta is a film producer, social activist, businessman, and speaker.

Founding and early changes:
- JPJD was founded in 2002 when four Bihar MLAs split from Janata Dal (United): Laxmi Narayan Yadav, Jainandan Yadav, Vishwanath Singh, and Sashi Kumar Rai, who led the legislative faction. They initially supported Rabri Devi’s government.
- In 2004, the four legislators ended their ties with Rabri Devi and rejoined JD(U). Around that time, MP Jai Narain Prasad Nishad served as party president.
- The leadership later moved to B.K. Singh in 2012. In 2014, Pankaj Sahay became the National President and led the party’s national expansion, bringing in many new members, social workers, and young people. He introduced the slogan “Shanti Sadbhav Shamridhi.”

In 2018, JPJD held two major National Executive Meetings:
- February 11, 2018: The focus was on expanding the party nationwide and creating Political Training Centers at party offices to train youths and ordinary citizens for politics.
- August 5, 2018: The second meeting discussed electing the National President and forming a National Council. Pankaj Sahay was re‑elected National President, and B.K. Singh was appointed head of the National Council.