The party was founded on 23 March 1982 by husband and wife Prof. Bhim Singh and Jay Mala,[6][7] Its aim is to "demolish corruption, communalism, criminalization, drug menace" and to establish a real democracy through ultimate revolution.

[15][16] In 2017, Ankit Love, the son of Bhim Singh and Jay Mala, announced his candidacy for Prime Minister of India for the 2019 Indian general election.

On 23 June 2021, Panthers Party President Prof. Bhim Singh was reported in the media as a potential candidate for the 2022 Indian vice presidential election,[19] as recommended for nomination by Ankit Love, just prior to meeting Prime Minister Modi at his residence for special dialogue in regards to the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir.

[31] It strongly condemned Israel in reaction to the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid that left nine humanitarian aid workers dead, and called on the Indian central government to support Palestinians inside and outside the UN.

[32][33] In 2014, Panthers Party activists burned an effigy of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at protests held in New Delhi, calling for UN intervention under Chapter VII, and terming Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide.

[45][clarification needed] The manifesto of the party focused on secular, nationalist and democratic principles, while seeking to respect the diversity of cultures and religions in the state including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir.

A month after its formation, in April 1982, the name of the party was questioned in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister, Sheikh Abdullah who had asked "Bhim Singh you were all right as a human being.

[49] The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement that impacted tort law in India, awarded Bhim Singh a compensation of fifty thousands rupees for his illegal detention and false imprisonment by the police.

[50][51] Bhim Singh had left jail with a fractured leg and claimed during his false imprisonment the police and state agencies had made an attempt on his life.

Bhim Singh accused Farooq Abdullah's government of rigging the elections,[54][55] which led to insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus.

[57] Bhim Singh filed a review petition against the order of the Election Commission of India, stating the declared result was rigged at the instance of Rajiv Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah, leaders of the ruling coalition parties.

Atal Behari Vajpayee joined Bhim Singh on hunger strike in front of the Election Commission offices in protest to the vote rigging.

[58] Bhim Singh later wrote in his book, Murder of Democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, that he had intervened to pacify a crowd of his supporters at the time, despite it costing him the result.

As he feared an outbreak of violence at the count venue could have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, by the heavily armed police present there, due to an escalation of the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir.

[52] Democratic elections had not been held for nine years, with the state placed under the Indian President's rule, due to a break down in law and order resultant from the terrorist insurgency.

[76] In May 2013, Panthers Party held another protest in the assembly demanding that chief minister Omar Abdullah resign, claiming his order was responsible for the deaths of five Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Srinagar.

On 24 August 2014 Speaker of the House, Mubarak Gul ordered security guards to forcibly evict Balwant Singh from the assembly when he disturbed proceedings against a bill by Omar Abdullah that had urged India to resume dialogue with Pakistan,[80] instead Balwant wearing a black bandana hawkishly demanded that the assembly condemn ceasefire violations by Pakistan, claiming they were leading to deaths of innocent villagers.

[26] Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah remained as the sole Panthers Party representative in government until March 2015, as a Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council.

The Panthers Party strongly condemned Israel's actions in the Gaza flotilla raid,[32] during which nine activists carrying humanitarian aid for Palestine were killed by Israeli armed forces.

Balwant Singh Mankotia, Panthers state president accused Israel of religious suppression at the time, as residents of Ramallah, Anata, Hebron and Jericho were denied from offering prayers at Al-Aqsa.

"[33] The party at the time had called on the Indian central government to support the sovereign statehood of Palestine both in and outside the UN, stating that the USA and Israel were in violation of UN Resolution 181.

Iqbal Jan who was candidate for parliament for Baramulla constituency for Panthers Party in May 2009, was given a life sentence after being convicted for waging war against the country in September 2009.

[88] On 28 February 2012, Delhi High Court overturned the judgment and called for immediate release of Jan from Tihar prison, who had been represented by Panthers Party founder Bhim Singh as his advocate.

[93] In reaction to the escalating violence and blindings from anti-riot pellet guns in the valley during the 2016 Kashmir Unrest, the Panthers Party through the Supreme Court of India had attempted to dissolve the government by imposition of Governor's rule.

"[96] Three days later, Home Minister of India, Rajnath Singh traveled to Kashmir and met with a three-member delegation of the Panthers Party promising to end the use of pellet guns.

[113] In February 2023, following the discovery of 5.9 tonnes of lithium in Reasi, Jammu, Ankit Love took over as Chief Patron of the Panthers Party, a role previously held by his father Prof. Bhim Singh.

Jay Mala commented that Love due to his international perspective was the best person to manage the $500 billion worth of lithium discovered in the Udhampur parliamentary constituency where the Panthers party won the election previously.

We must have the best infrastructure, libraries, hospitals, art galleries, theatres, sports teams, shopping malls, five star hotel resorts, airports and the creation of a brand new world class Prof. Bhim Singh University which was always my father’s dream, to build the world’s greatest university here.”[114] On 20 February, Government of Jammu and Kashmir withdrew Jay Mala's secure accommodation by sealing the Panthers party office in Jammu.

[117] Supported by Jay Mala, former education minister Harsh Dev Singh[118] was elected state president of Panthers party by the working committee on 4 April 2023.

On 29 May, JKNPP president Harsh Dev Singh, addressing a press conference in Jammu, stated "People of J&K have exclusive right over lithium reserves.