Post Independent India saw the emergence of many prominent political parties. The famous ones with their famous leaders are mentioned below-
| Political Parties | Year of Establishment | Famous Leaders | Ideology |
| Indian National Congress (INC) | 1885 | Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi | Centre-left, Social democracy, Secularism. The INC played a crucial role in the independence movement and was the dominant party in Indian politics for the first few decades post-independence. |
| Bharatiya Jana Sangh | 1951 | Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyay | The BJS sought to revive and promote India’s ancient cultural traditions and heritage. It emphasized the importance of Sanskrit and traditional Indian education. |
| Communist Party of India (CPI) | 1925 | S. A. Dange, E. M. S. Namboodiripad | Left-wing, Communism, Marxism-Leninism. The CPI was influential in the early years of Indian independence, particularly in Kerala and West Bengal. It split in 1964, leading to the formation of CPI(M). |
| Congress Socialist Party | 1934 | Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayprakash Narayan | Radical faction working within the Indian National Congress |
| Swatantra Party | 1959 | C. Rajagopalachari, Minoo Masani, N.G. Ranga, Darshan Singh Pheruman | Favoured classical liberal principles and free enterprise. |
| Congress for Democracy | 1977 | Babu Jagjivan Ram | To oppose the totalitarian and the dictatorial regime in the congress party led by Indira Gandhi |
| Bahujan Samaj Party | 1984 | Kanshi Ram, Mayawati | Dalit socialism, Social democracy, Secularism. The BSP focuses on the upliftment of Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, and religious minorities. |
