Class 12 Political Science Chapter 5 Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System looks into the complicated mechanics of India’s Congress System, analyzing its struggles and final restoration. The Congress System, defined by the Indian National Congress party’s dominance in the political landscape following independence, faced many difficulties and disturbances. This chapter explores the evolution of the Congress System, the rise of new political forces, and the measures used to regain its dominance in the face of shifting political perspectives. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the complexity of Indian politics during this critical period.
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Challenge of Political Succession
After Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru died in 1964, speculation arose about the future of India’s democratic experiment. Doubts arose about the new leadership’s ability to manage a democratic succession and handle multiple crises, including poverty and inequality. The 1960s were deemed the ‘dangerous decade’, as unresolved problems could lead to the failure of the democratic project or even the country’s disintegration.
From Nehru to Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri, a non-controversial leader from Uttar Pradesh, was elected as India’s Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966. He faced two major challenges during his tenure: economic recovery from the war with China, failed monsoons, drought, and a serious food crisis, and a war with Pakistan in 1965. Shastri’s slogan, ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’, symbolized the country’s resolve to face these challenges. His Prime Ministership ended abruptly on 10 January 1966, when he signed an agreement with Pakistan’s President, Muhammad Ayub Khan.
From Shastri to Indira Gandhi
The Congress faced a political succession challenge in two years, this time between Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi. Desai had served as Chief Minister of Bombay state and a central minister. Indira Gandhi, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, had previously served as Congress President and Union Minister for Information. Despite intense competition, Gandhi won with over two-thirds of the party’s MPs. The peaceful transition of power was seen as a sign of India’s democracy’s maturity. Indira Gandhi faced difficulties in a Lok Sabha election and economic deterioration, aiming to gain control and demonstrate leadership skills.
Fourth General Elections, 1967
1967 marked a significant shift in India’s political landscape, with the Congress party becoming the dominant force from 1952 to the 1967 elections.
Context of the Elections
The Indian political landscape was marked by significant changes, including the sudden deaths of two Prime Ministers and the appointment of a new Prime Minister. The economic crisis was exacerbated by monsoon failures, drought, decline in agricultural production, food shortages, depletion of foreign exchange reserves, and a rise in military expenditure. The Indira Gandhi government devalued the Indian rupee, leading to price rise and protests against the economic situation. The government saw these protests as law and order issues, reinforcing public unrest. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) also participated in armed agrarian struggles and organized peasant agitations.
Non-Congressism
Opposition parties in India organized public protests and pressured the government, forming anti-Congress fronts in some states and adjusting electoral seats in others. They believed Indira Gandhi’s inexperience and internal factionalism offered an opportunity to topple Congress. Socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia called this strategy ‘non-Congressism’, arguing that Congress rule was undemocratic and opposed to the interests of ordinary poor people.
Electoral Verdict
In February 1967, the fourth general elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were held, marking the Congress’s first time facing the electorate without Nehru. The election resulted in a ‘political earthquake’, with the Congress gaining a majority in the Lok Sabha but losing its lowest tally of seats and share of votes since 1952. Half of Indira Gandhi’s cabinet ministers were defeated, and political stalwarts like Kamaraj in Tamil Nadu, S.K. Patil in Maharashtra, Atulya Ghosh in West Bengal, and K. B. Sahay in Bihar lost their constituencies.
The Congress lost power in nine states across the country, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Madras, and Kerala. In Madras State, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) won power by securing a clear majority, marking the first time any non-Congress party had secured a majority in any state. In the other eight states, coalition governments consisting of different non-Congress parties were formed.
Coalitions
The 1967 elections highlighted the concept of coalitions, where non-Congress parties formed joint legislative parties to support non-Congress governments. These governments were known as SVD governments, and often had ideologically incongruent partners. For example, in Bihar, the SVD government included socialist parties, the CPI, and Jana Sangh, while in Punjab, it was called the ‘Popular United Front’ and included rival Akali parties, communist parties, the SSP, the Republican Party, and Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
Defection
After the 1967 election, defections played a significant role in the formation and dissolution of governments in states. Congress legislators, who left their party, installed non-Congress governments in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. This period saw constant realignments and shifting political loyalties, leading to the expression ‘Aya Ram, Gaya Ram’.
Split in the Congress
After the 1967 elections, Congress retained power in the Centre but lost power in many states. The results showed Congress could be defeated in elections, but no substitutes were available. Non-Congress coalition governments often lost majority, leading to new combinations or President’s rule.
Indira vs. the ‘Syndicate’
Indira Gandhi faced a challenge from within her own party, the’syndicate’, which had installed her as Prime Minister and had expected her to follow their advice. Gandhi sought to assert her position within the government and the party, choosing advisers from outside the party. She sidelined the Syndicate slowly, aiming to build independence and regain lost ground.
Gandhi adopted a bold strategy, turning a power struggle into an ideological struggle. She launched initiatives to give government policy a Left orientation, such as the Ten Point Programme in May 1967. Despite the syndicate leaders’ reservations, the program included social control of banks, nationalization of General Insurance, urban property ceilings, public distribution of food grains, land reforms, and provision of house sites to the rural poor.
Presidential Election, 1969
In 1969, the factional rivalry between the Syndicate and Indira Gandhi emerged in India after President Zakir Hussain’s death. The Syndicate nominates N. Sanjeeva Reddy as the official Congress candidate, while Indira Gandhi encourages V.V. Giri to file his nomination as an independent candidate. Both parties announced policy measures, such as nationalizing private banks and abolishing the privy purse.
Deputy Prime Minister Morarji Desai left the government due to differences with the Prime Minister. The Congress President, S. Nijalingappa, issued a “whip” to vote in favor of Reddy, while Indira Gandhi’s supporters called for a “conscience vote” to allow Congress MPs and MLAs to vote their way. The election resulted in Giri’s victory and Reddy’s defeat, formalizing a party split. The two parties were also known as Old Congress and New Congress, with Indira Gandhi presenting the split as an ideological divide between socialists and conservatives.
The 1971 Election and Restoration of Congress
The Congress split reduced Indira Gandhi’s government to a minority, but it continued with support from other parties like the Communist Party of India and the DMK. Gandhi campaigned for land reform and further legislation. To strengthen her party, she recommended dissolving the Lok Sabha in December 1970, and held the fifth general election in February 1971.
The Contest
The electoral contest against Congress(R) was dominated by the Grand Alliance, which included major non-communist opposition parties. Indira Gandhi, a leader of the Grand Alliance, aimed to create a positive agenda and slogan, Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty), which focused on the growth of the public sector, imposing ceilings on rural land holdings, removing income disparities, and abolishing privileges. This strategy aimed to build an independent nationwide political support base among the disadvantaged, particularly landless laborers, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, women, and unemployed youth.
The Outcome and After
The 1971 Lok Sabha elections saw the Congress(R)-CPI alliance win more seats and votes than the Congress had ever won in the first four general elections. Indira Gandhi’s Congress(R) won 352 seats with 44% of the popular votes, establishing its claim as the “real” Congress and restoring its dominant position in Indian politics. The Grand Alliance of the opposition failed, with their combined tally of seats being less than 40. The 1971 elections, followed by the Indo-Pak war and the establishment of Bangladesh, further boosted Indira Gandhi’s popularity. With two successive election victories, the Congress was in power in almost all states and popular across different social sections.
Restoration
Indira Gandhi re-invented the Congress party, focusing on the supreme leader’s popularity and weak organizational structure. This new Congress party, which won elections, relied more on social groups like the poor, women, Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities. Despite being more popular, the new Congress did not absorb all tensions and conflicts, leading to a political crisis that threatened the existence of constitutional democracy in the country. The Congress system’s capacity to absorb tensions and conflicts remained limited.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Chapter 5 of Class 12 Political Science provides a thorough analysis of the issues confronting India’s Congress System, as well as the following attempts to reestablish its dominance. From the rise of regional parties to internal factionalism within the Indian National Congress, this chapter shows the complex processes that created the political landscape throughout this period. It also discusses the techniques used by the Congress Party to adjust to changing conditions and restore its position of prominence.
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Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System- FAQs
What is the focus of Chapter 5 of Class 12 Political Science?
The chapter focuses on examining the challenges faced by the Congress System in India and the efforts made to restore its influence.
What are some challenges to the Congress System discussed in the chapter?
Challenges include the rise of regional parties, factionalism within the Indian National Congress, and changes in socio-political dynamics.
How did regional parties impact the Congress System?
Regional parties emerged as significant political forces, challenging the dominance of the Indian National Congress and altering the political landscape.
What role did factionalism play within the Indian National Congress?
Factionalism led to internal divisions within the Congress party, affecting its cohesion and ability to govern effectively.
How did the Congress party attempt to restore its influence?
The Congress party employed strategies such as coalition-building, policy reforms, and alliances with regional parties to regain electoral support.
What were the consequences of the challenges faced by the Congress System?
Consequences included the decentralization of power, the emergence of coalition politics, and the need for adaptability in India’s political system.
How did the restoration efforts impact India’s political landscape?
Restoration efforts led to the revitalization of the Congress party, reshaping political alliances and dynamics in India.
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