By Editor If you’re new to the overall political scene of India, you’ll be baffled by the fact that there are as many as 2,800+ recognized entities that can be counted as political parties. Though, out of all these, only a handful of the ones that make the appeal to a large group of people in India during major elections, and most of which you already know about like BJP, Congress, AAP, TMC, etc. Right? But anyway, sticking to the topic here, let’s just get on with the list of the Top 10 Political Parties in India 2026, shall we?
1. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
There is no way that we could put the BJP in any other spot in this list, and you already know the reason. Currently, they’re THE biggest and most popular political party in the country and they have formed the government third time in a row, though this time it is a coalition government. Besides this, the party leads the NDA alliance and is in power in several key states, thus maintaining a strong influence all over the country. By 2026, the BJP is undoubtedly the most influential party in India, playing a major role in setting the political agenda of the country.
2. Indian National Congress (INC)
And of course, Indian National Congress comes second on this list as a result of a major revived momentum in recent years. The party that made very little impression previously, was a complete surprise to the nation, as it secured 99 seats in the 2024 elections, almost doubling its previous count, you know? Being the oldest political party in India, Congress still has a long and rich history going back to the freedom movement. Besides, it is the head of the INDIA alliance, thus holding the position of the biggest competitor of BJP at the national level.
3. Samajwadi Party (SP)
Number three is the Samajwadi Party, which has seen a very rapid growth in the last few years, no doubt in that. The party was one of the main beneficiaries of the 2024 elections by making a massive leap from only 5 to 37 seats. Like yes, such a result alone ensured its status as one of India’s major political powers. Due to its increasing impact and solid voter base, Samajwadi Party has become the crucial support of the INDIA alliance by 2026.
4. All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)
The regional party Trinamool Congress is rated as the fourth major party mainly because of its powerful regional dominance and somewhat national relevance, you know? Mamata Banerjee’s leadership has seen the party maintain an almost unshakeable control of Bengal over a number of years. At the beginning of 2026, TMC still constitutes a major political player, particularly in the east of India, and is progressively asserting itself in national governmental decisions.
5. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
Going down just one spot, well, DMK is ranked at number five on this list and it is the main political force in Tamil Nadu. In the 2024 general elections, the DMK bagged 22 seats and demonstrated its power once more. Besides, the party has contributed to the INDIA alliance significantly thus, it gets an extended reach besides Tamil Nadu. Towards 2026, DMK remains one of the most dependable and the best-structured regional parties in the country.
6. Telugu Desam Party (TDP)
The Telugu Desam Party ranks sixth largely on the strength of its exceptional revival in the 2024 elections. The party, after going through a difficult period, managed to stage a comeback by clinching 16 seats, thereby regaining its stature in Andhra Pradesh. The TDP was established by N.T. Rama Rao and is presently headed by N. Chandrababu Naidu, by the way.
7. Janata Dal (United) – JD(U)
Now in a coalition with the BJP, no doubt, JDU is among the most popular parties in India too, but the fact is, they have been very popular in Bihar for many years now, possibly decade. Talking of something really recent, though, under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, JD(U) secured 12 seats in the 2024 elections and thus still holds a significant position in the political scene of Bihar.
8. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)
The story with this one is pretty interesting and intriguing too, like, since the split in the party, the faction of Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has successfully carved out a separate identity for itself. Talking of some recent stuff, well, just in the 2024 elections, we all saw how they managed to secure 9 seats and demonstrated that they still have the power to influence, particularly in Maharashtra.
9. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar Faction)
NCP? Yes, they’re counted as top ones too, and the party with its veteran leadership and solid grassroots base is a major player in the alliance game. Being a co-founder of SHIVSATTA and having an astute strategist like Sharad Pawar, NCP has always been a significant player in the political chessboards of Maharashtra. Even in 2026, the party will be a reliable partner in the opposition politics.
10. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Finishing off this list, well, the Aam Aadmi Party makes it the last one on the list. Even if it secured just 3 seats in 2024, it is counted among the influential ones as a party. AAP still governs Delhi and Punjab, so it is politically relevant. Being a party that was started based on the principle of honest politics and transparent governance, it pays a lot of attention to education, health as well as other public services.
Conclusion
Overall, by the previous election results and the overall popularity of these parties, we have ranked them accordingly. And by far, yes, these are the top 10 political parties in India as of 2026, so expect to see their names more often in the coming elections.