12 CBSC NCERT Political Science
Challenges and Restoration of the Congress System in India
Packiam AI Quiz Maker
Theme Analysis
Main ThemeChallenges to and Restoration of the Congress System in India (1960s-1970s)
Subject CategoryPolitical Science / Indian History
Key Concepts
Question FocusQuestions focus on understanding the political transitions, causes for the decline of Congress dominance, the strategies adopted by opposition and Indira Gandhi, and the eventual restoration of Congress's central position, albeit with a changed character. All questions are multiple-choice, covering 'Remember' and 'Understand' Bloom's levels.
Who became the Prime Minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru passed away in May 1964?
Hint: Consider the immediate successor to Nehru, before Indira Gandhi.
Answer
Lal Bahadur Shastri was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Congress parliamentary party and thus became the country's next Prime Minister after Nehru's demise.
Explanation
After Jawaharlal Nehru's death in May 1964, K. Kamraj, the then Congress party president, consulted party leaders and members of Parliament. A consensus emerged in favor of Lal Bahadur Shastri, who subsequently became the Prime Minister.
What was the primary concern among outsiders regarding India's democratic experiment after Nehru's death?
Hint: The text mentions a 'more serious question' beyond 'after Nehru, who?'.
Answer
The primary concern was whether India’s democratic experiment would survive after Nehru, with fears of a political role for the army if democratic succession failed.
Explanation
Many outsiders doubted whether India's democratic experiment would survive after Nehru, fearing that like other newly independent countries, India might not manage a democratic succession, potentially leading to military intervention or disintegration. This period was labeled the 'dangerous decade'.
Which famous slogan did Lal Bahadur Shastri coin during his brief Prime Ministership?
Hint: This slogan symbolized India's resolve to face challenges during the 1960s.
Answer
Lal Bahadur Shastri coined the famous slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' (Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer).
Explanation
During his Prime Ministership, Lal Bahadur Shastri coined the slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' to symbolize India's determination to face the challenges of economic hardship (food crisis) and the 1965 war with Pakistan.
Where did Lal Bahadur Shastri suddenly expire on January 11, 1966?
Hint: He was on a diplomatic mission when he passed away.
Answer
Lal Bahadur Shastri expired in Tashkent, then in the USSR, while signing an agreement to end the war with Pakistan.
Explanation
Shastri's Prime Ministership abruptly ended on January 11, 1966, when he suddenly expired in Tashkent, then part of the USSR (now the capital of Uzbekistan). He was there to discuss and sign an agreement with Pakistan's President to end the 1965 war.
Who were the two main competitors for the Prime Minister's post after Lal Bahadur Shastri's death?
Hint: One was a former Chief Minister, the other was Nehru's daughter.
Answer
The intense competition for the Prime Minister's post after Shastri's death was between Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi.
Explanation
The Congress faced the challenge of political succession for the second time in two years. This time, there was intense competition between Morarji Desai, a former Chief Minister and Union Minister, and Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru's daughter and a Union Minister in Shastri's cabinet.
Why did senior Congress leaders initially support Indira Gandhi for the Prime Ministership after Shastri?
Hint: Consider the expectations of the 'Syndicate' regarding her leadership style.
Answer
Senior Congress leaders supported Indira Gandhi, believing her administrative and political inexperience would make her dependent on their guidance.
Explanation
The senior Congress leaders, particularly the 'Syndicate,' supported Indira Gandhi with the belief that her relative administrative and political inexperience would compel her to rely on them for support and guidance, thus allowing them to exert influence.
Which year is considered a landmark in India's political and electoral history due to significant changes in Congress's dominance?
Hint: This year marked a 'political earthquake' for the Congress.
Answer
The year 1967 is considered a landmark year because the Congress party's dominance underwent significant changes in the general elections.
Explanation
The year 1967 is a landmark because the fourth general elections significantly challenged the Congress party's long-standing dominance, leading to a reduced majority at the center and loss of power in many states.
What was one of the major economic decisions of the Indira Gandhi government prior to the 1967 elections, which led to public discontent?
Hint: This economic measure made foreign goods more expensive.
Answer
One of Indira Gandhi's first decisions was to devalue the Indian rupee, which triggered price rise and public bitterness.
Explanation
In the years leading up to the 1967 elections, the economic situation was grave. One of the first decisions of the Indira Gandhi government was to devalue the Indian rupee, which led to a sharp price rise and increased public discontent, contributing to the challenges faced by the Congress.
Which of the following was a reason for widespread public protests before the 1967 elections?
Hint: Economic hardships were a major factor.
Answer
Public protests were triggered by the increase in prices of essential commodities, food scarcity, and growing unemployment.
Explanation
The economic situation, exacerbated by rupee devaluation, successive monsoon failures, drought, and food shortages, led to a sharp rise in prices. This triggered widespread protests ('bandhs and hartals') against the government due to the increase in prices of essential commodities, food scarcity, and unemployment.
What was the outcome for the Congress party in the Lok Sabha elections of 1967?
Hint: It was a significant setback, but not a complete defeat at the national level.
Answer
The Congress managed to get a majority in the Lok Sabha in 1967, but with its lowest tally of seats and share of votes since 1952.
Explanation
The 1967 Lok Sabha election results 'jolted' the Congress. While it did manage to secure a majority, it was with its lowest ever tally of seats and share of votes since the first general election in 1952, indicating a significant erosion of its dominance.
In how many states did the Congress party lose its majority in the 1967 State Assembly elections?
Hint: The loss was more dramatic at the state level than the national level.
Answer
The Congress lost majority in as many as seven States in the 1967 State Assembly elections.
Explanation
At the State level, the political change was even more apparent. The Congress lost its majority in seven states and was prevented from forming a government in two others due to defections, totaling nine states where it lost power.
Which regional party came to power in Madras State (now Tamil Nadu) in the 1967 elections by securing a clear majority?
Hint: This party led a massive anti-Hindi agitation.
Answer
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) came to power in Madras State in 1967, becoming the first non-Congress party to secure a majority on its own in any state.
Explanation
In Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) achieved a significant victory, securing a clear majority. This was notable as it was the first time any non-Congress party had secured a majority on its own in any state, following its anti-Hindi agitation.
What was the main motivation behind the opposition parties forming 'anti-Congress fronts' or electoral adjustments before the 1967 elections?
Hint: This strategy aimed to consolidate votes against the dominant party.
Answer
Opposition parties realized that the division of their votes kept the Congress in power, so they united to form anti-Congress fronts to overcome this.
Explanation
Parties opposed to the Congress realized that their fragmented votes allowed the Congress to maintain power. Therefore, they decided to form 'anti-Congress fronts' or electoral adjustments, sharing seats in various states to consolidate the anti-Congress vote and challenge its dominance.
Who coined the strategy of 'non-Congressism'?
Hint: He was a prominent socialist thinker and critic of Nehru.
Answer
The socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia gave the strategy of opposition unity the name 'non-Congressism'.
Explanation
The strategy of various non-Congress parties, despite their ideological differences, coming together to oppose the Congress was termed 'non-Congressism' by the socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia. He argued that Congress rule was undemocratic and against the interests of the poor.
What was the theoretical argument given by Ram Manohar Lohia in defence of 'non-Congressism'?
Hint: His argument focused on the nature of Congress rule and its impact on the common populace.
Answer
Lohia argued that Congress rule was undemocratic and opposed to the interests of ordinary poor people, making the unity of non-Congress parties necessary to reclaim democracy.
Explanation
Ram Manohar Lohia's theoretical argument for 'non-Congressism' was that Congress rule was undemocratic and went against the interests of ordinary poor people. Therefore, the coming together of non-Congress parties was essential for restoring democracy to the people.
What term was used to describe the joint legislative parties formed by non-Congress parties to support non-Congress governments after the 1967 elections?
Hint: This term literally means 'United Legislative Front'.
Answer
These joint legislative parties were called Samyukt Vidhayak Dal (SVD) in Hindi, and the governments they formed were described as SVD governments.
Explanation
After the 1967 elections, since no single party achieved a majority in many states, various non-Congress parties united to form joint legislative parties, known as Samyukt Vidhayak Dal (SVD), which then supported non-Congress coalition governments. These were often ideologically incongruent.
What was a notable characteristic of the coalition partners in many SVD governments formed after 1967?
Hint: Think about the example of the Bihar SVD government mentioned in the text.
Answer
In most cases, the coalition partners in SVD governments were ideologically incongruent, bringing together parties from across the political spectrum.
Explanation
The text highlights that in most cases, the coalition partners in SVD governments were 'ideologically incongruent'. For instance, the Bihar SVD government included socialist parties (SSP, PSP), the Communist Party of India (CPI) on the left, and the Jana Sangh on the right, demonstrating a wide ideological spectrum.
What does the term 'defection' mean in the context of Indian politics after the 1967 elections?
Hint: This practice was significant in the 'making and unmaking of governments' in states.
Answer
Defection means an elected representative leaves the party on whose symbol he/she was elected and joins another party.
Explanation
Defection became a prominent feature of Indian politics after the 1967 elections. It refers to the act of an elected representative abandoning the political party under whose banner they were elected and subsequently joining a different party.
The expression 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram' became popular in Indian political vocabulary to describe which practice?
Hint: It originated from a specific MLA's actions in Haryana.
Answer
The expression 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram' described the practice of frequent floor-crossing by legislators, where 'Ram came and Ram went'.
Explanation
The phrase 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram' (Ram came, Ram went) became popular to describe the frequent switching of party loyalties by elected legislators. It originated from an incident involving Gaya Lal, an MLA in Haryana, who changed his party thrice in a fortnight in 1967.
What was the informal name given to the group of powerful and influential Congress leaders who controlled the party's organization?
Hint: This group played a significant role in Indira Gandhi's initial rise to power.
Answer
The informal name given to this group of powerful Congress leaders was the 'Syndicate'.
Explanation
The 'Syndicate' was an informal name for a group of powerful and influential Congress leaders, including figures like K. Kamraj, S.K. Patil, and S. Nijalingappa, who held considerable sway over the party's organization. They initially supported Indira Gandhi but later became her internal challengers.
How did Indira Gandhi initially attempt to assert her position and sideline the Syndicate?
Hint: She converted a power struggle into an ideological one.
Answer
Indira Gandhi chose her trusted advisers from outside the party and launched initiatives to give government policy a Left orientation to assert her position.
Explanation
Indira Gandhi gradually asserted her position by choosing trusted advisers from outside the party and sidelining the Syndicate. She adopted a bold strategy, converting the power struggle into an ideological one by launching a series of initiatives to give government policy a Left orientation, such as the Ten Point Programme.
What was one of the key points of Indira Gandhi's Ten Point Programme adopted in May 1967?
Hint: This program aimed at giving the government policy a 'Left' orientation.
Answer
Social control of banks was a key point of Indira Gandhi's Ten Point Programme, along with nationalisation of General Insurance, land reforms, etc.
Explanation
Indira Gandhi's Ten Point Programme, adopted in May 1967, included measures like social control of banks, nationalisation of General Insurance, ceiling on urban property and income, public distribution of food grains, land reforms, and provision of house sites to the rural poor. These were designed to project a socialist image.
What event brought the factional rivalry between the Syndicate and Indira Gandhi into the open in 1969?
Hint: This election involved a contest for the head of state.
Answer
The Presidential election of 1969, following President Zakir Hussain's death, brought the factional rivalry between the Syndicate and Indira Gandhi into the open.
Explanation
The death of President Zakir Hussain in 1969 led to a vacancy in the post of President of India. The subsequent Presidential election became the flashpoint where the simmering rivalry between the Syndicate and Indira Gandhi erupted into a public confrontation.
Who was the official Congress candidate nominated by the Syndicate for the 1969 Presidential elections?
Hint: Indira Gandhi had reservations about this candidate.
Answer
The Syndicate nominated N. Sanjeeva Reddy, then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, as the official Congress candidate for the 1969 Presidential elections.
Explanation
Despite Indira Gandhi's reservations, the Syndicate successfully nominated N. Sanjeeva Reddy, a long-time opponent of hers and the then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, as the official Congress candidate for the 1969 Presidential elections. This move further intensified the conflict.
Whom did Indira Gandhi encourage to file his nomination as an independent candidate in the 1969 Presidential election?
Hint: He was the incumbent Vice-President at the time.
Answer
Indira Gandhi retaliated by encouraging the then Vice-President, V.V. Giri, to file his nomination as an independent candidate.
Explanation
In response to the Syndicate's nomination of N. Sanjeeva Reddy, Indira Gandhi encouraged the then Vice-President, V.V. Giri, to contest the Presidential election as an independent candidate, setting the stage for a direct confrontation within the party.
What major policy measure did Indira Gandhi announce just before the 1969 Presidential election to gain public support?
Hint: This move was aimed at projecting a socialist image and was very popular.
Answer
Indira Gandhi announced the nationalisation of fourteen leading private banks and the abolition of 'privy purse' to garner popular support.
Explanation
To consolidate her position and gain public support against the Syndicate, Indira Gandhi announced several bold and popular policy measures, most notably the nationalisation of fourteen leading private banks and the abolition of the 'privy purse' (special privileges for former princes).
What was the significance of Indira Gandhi's call for a 'conscience vote' during the 1969 Presidential election?
Hint: This move directly challenged the authority of the Congress President and the Syndicate.
Answer
The 'conscience vote' meant that Congress MPs and MLAs were free to vote according to their own conscience, effectively undermining the party whip issued by the Congress President.
Explanation
Despite the Congress President S. Nijalingappa issuing a 'whip' for all Congress MPs and MLAs to vote for Sanjeeva Reddy, Indira Gandhi openly called for a 'conscience vote.' This was a direct challenge to the party leadership, allowing her supporters to vote for V.V. Giri without fear of party discipline.
What was the outcome of the 1969 Presidential election?
Hint: This result formally triggered the split in the Congress party.
Answer
The election resulted in the victory of V.V. Giri, the independent candidate supported by Indira Gandhi, and the defeat of the official Congress candidate, N. Sanjeeva Reddy.
Explanation
The 1969 Presidential election concluded with the victory of V.V. Giri, who contested as an independent candidate with Indira Gandhi's backing. This defeat of the official Congress candidate, N. Sanjeeva Reddy, formalized the split within the Congress party.
By November 1969, what were the two factions of the split Congress party called?
Hint: One faction was led by the 'Syndicate', the other by the Prime Minister.
Answer
The two groups were referred to as the Congress (Organisation) (led by the Syndicate) and the Congress (Requisitionists) (led by Indira Gandhi). They were also known as Old Congress and New Congress.
Explanation
Following the formal split, the group led by the 'Syndicate' came to be known as the Congress (Organisation) or Old Congress, while the group led by Indira Gandhi, which had requisitioned a special AICC meeting, was called the Congress (Requisitionists) or New Congress.
How did Indira Gandhi project the split within the Congress party?
Hint: This framing helped her gain popular support for her faction.
Answer
Indira Gandhi projected the split as an ideological divide between socialists and conservatives, between the pro-poor and the pro-rich.
Explanation
Indira Gandhi skillfully framed the Congress split not as a mere power struggle but as an ideological divide. She portrayed her faction as representing socialist, pro-poor values, contrasting it with the 'Syndicate' whom she painted as conservative and pro-rich, thereby garnering significant public support.
What was the 'privy purse' that Indira Gandhi sought to abolish?
Hint: These were special benefits provided to princely families after their states merged with India.
Answer
The 'privy purse' was a grant in heredity or government allowance, along with certain private property and special privileges, given to former rulers' families after the integration of Princely States.
Explanation
The privy purse referred to the hereditary grants and special privileges (including retention of private property and government allowances) assured to the former rulers of Princely States upon their accession to India. Indira Gandhi argued that these privileges were inconsistent with the principles of equality and social justice enshrined in the Constitution.
Why did Indira Gandhi make the abolition of privy purses a major election issue in 1971?
Hint: This issue resonated with her 'pro-poor' image.
Answer
Indira Gandhi made the abolition of privy purses a major election issue to demonstrate her commitment to socialist principles of equality and social and economic justice.
Explanation
After attempts to abolish privy purses through constitutional amendment and ordinance failed, Indira Gandhi strategically turned it into a major election issue in 1971. This allowed her to underscore her commitment to equality and social justice, aligning with her 'pro-poor' image and garnering significant public support for her faction.
After the 1969 split, how did Indira Gandhi's government manage to continue in office despite being reduced to a minority?
Hint: She relied on external support rather than a formal alliance immediately.
Answer
Indira Gandhi's government continued in office with issue-based support from a few other parties, including the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the DMK.
Explanation
Although the Congress split reduced Indira Gandhi's government to a minority in Parliament, it managed to remain in office. This was possible due to issue-based support from certain other parties, notably the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Why did Indira Gandhi's government recommend the dissolution of the Lok Sabha in December 1970, leading to early elections?
Hint: She wanted a stronger, independent mandate for her policies.
Answer
Indira Gandhi recommended dissolving the Lok Sabha to end her dependence on other political parties, strengthen her party's position, and seek a fresh popular mandate for her programs.
Explanation
Indira Gandhi's government, though supported by other parties, was a minority. To overcome this dependency, strengthen her party's standing in Parliament, and secure a clear popular mandate for her socialist programs (like nationalization and privy purse abolition), she made the bold move of recommending the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, leading to the early fifth general elections in 1971.
What was the name of the electoral alliance formed by major non-communist, non-Congress opposition parties for the 1971 Lok Sabha elections?
Hint: This alliance included parties like SSP, PSP, BJS, and Swatantra Party.
Answer
The major non-communist, non-Congress opposition parties formed an electoral alliance known as the Grand Alliance for the 1971 Lok Sabha elections.
Explanation
For the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, major opposition parties (Samyukta Socialist Party, Praja Socialist Party, Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Swatantra Party, and Bharatiya Kranti Dal) came together to form a broad electoral alliance known as the 'Grand Alliance' to counter Indira Gandhi's Congress(R).
What was the single common program of the Grand Alliance in the 1971 elections, according to Indira Gandhi?
Hint: This was her way of framing their collective opposition to her.
Answer
Indira Gandhi claimed that the opposition's Grand Alliance had only one common program: 'Indira Hatao' (Remove Indira).
Explanation
Indira Gandhi effectively countered the Grand Alliance by stating that their only common program was 'Indira Hatao' (Remove Indira). This allowed her to present her own positive agenda and slogan in contrast to what she portrayed as a negative, anti-Indira campaign.
What was Indira Gandhi's famous positive slogan for the 1971 Lok Sabha elections?
Hint: This slogan resonated deeply with the disadvantaged sections of society.
Answer
Indira Gandhi put forward the positive program captured in the famous slogan: 'Garibi Hatao' (Remove Poverty).
Explanation
In stark contrast to the opposition's 'Indira Hatao' slogan, Indira Gandhi presented a positive program centered on the famous slogan 'Garibi Hatao' (Remove Poverty). This slogan became a powerful tool to mobilize support among the disadvantaged sections of society.
How did Indira Gandhi try to generate a support base among the disadvantaged through 'Garibi Hatao'?
Hint: Her policies aimed at socialistic measures.
Answer
Through 'Garibi Hatao', Indira Gandhi focused on policies like public sector growth, ceiling on land holdings and urban property, removal of disparities, and abolition of princely privileges, appealing to the disadvantaged.
Explanation
The 'Garibi Hatao' slogan was backed by programs focusing on the growth of the public sector, imposition of ceilings on rural land holdings and urban property, removal of disparities in income and opportunity, and the abolition of princely privileges. This strategy aimed to build support among landless laborers, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, women, and unemployed youth.
What was the outcome for Indira Gandhi's Congress(R) in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections?
Hint: The results were 'dramatic' and surprised many.
Answer
Indira Gandhi's Congress(R) won a massive majority, securing 352 seats with about 44% of the popular votes, establishing its claim as the 'real' Congress and restoring its dominant position.
Explanation
The 1971 Lok Sabha election results were highly dramatic. Indira Gandhi's Congress(R)-CPI alliance won 375 seats, with Congress(R) alone securing 352 seats and 44% of the popular vote. This massive victory established Congress(R) as the 'real' Congress and restored its dominant position in Indian politics, while the Grand Alliance failed spectacularly.
What contributed to Indira Gandhi's increased popularity soon after the 1971 Lok Sabha elections?
Hint: This event showcased her strong leadership on the international stage.
Answer
The crisis in East Pakistan and the subsequent Indo-Pak war, leading to the establishment of Bangladesh, significantly added to Indira Gandhi's popularity.
Explanation
Soon after the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, the crisis in East Pakistan escalated into the Indo-Pak war, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh. These events were seen as a major foreign policy and military triumph for India, significantly boosting Indira Gandhi's popularity and cementing her image as a strong nationalist leader.
In what way did Indira Gandhi 're-invent' the Congress party and the Congress system after 1971?
Hint: The new Congress had a different organizational structure and relied on a different kind of leadership.
Answer
Indira Gandhi re-invented the Congress into a highly centralized and undemocratic party organization, relying entirely on the popularity of the supreme leader, rather than its earlier federal and democratic structure.
Explanation
While Indira Gandhi restored the Congress to a dominant position, she 're-invented' the party rather than reviving its old form. The new Congress was highly centralized, relied entirely on the popularity of its supreme leader (Indira Gandhi), had a weaker organizational structure, and became less accommodative of internal factions, depending more on specific social groups like the poor, women, Dalits, and minorities.
What label was given to the 1960s in India due to unresolved problems like poverty, inequality, and regional divisions?
Hint: This period was marked by significant internal challenges and doubts about India's future.
Answer
The 1960s were labeled as the 'dangerous decade' due to unresolved problems that threatened the democratic project or even the country's disintegration.
Explanation
The 1960s were characterized by deep skepticism about India's ability to survive as a democracy. Unresolved issues such as poverty, inequality, communal and regional divisions led many to label this period as the 'dangerous decade,' fearing a failure of the democratic project or even national disintegration.
How did the succession after Nehru to Lal Bahadur Shastri defy many critics' expectations?
Hint: The transition was peaceful and consensus-based.
Answer
The ease with which the succession after Nehru took place, with Shastri being unanimously chosen, proved all the critics wrong who doubted India's democratic survival.
Explanation
Despite widespread international doubts about India's ability to manage a democratic succession after Nehru, the transition to Lal Bahadur Shastri was remarkably smooth and consensual. This peaceful transition defied the critics who feared a breakdown of democracy in India.
Which of the following challenges did India NOT face during Shastri's brief Prime Ministership?
Hint: Shastri's tenure was in the mid-1960s.
Answer
The Emergency was declared in 1975 under Indira Gandhi, not during Shastri's Prime Ministership.
Explanation
During Shastri's brief Prime Ministership (1964-1966), India faced severe economic challenges from the aftermath of the China war, failed monsoons, drought, and a serious food crisis. Additionally, the country fought a war with Pakistan in 1965. The Emergency, however, occurred much later, in 1975.
The peaceful transition of power after Shastri's death, despite intense competition between Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi, was seen as what?
Hint: This reflected positively on India's democratic institutions.
Answer
The peaceful transition of power, even with intense competition for leadership, was seen as a sign of maturity of India's democracy.
Explanation
Despite the intense competition between Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi for the Prime Minister's post after Shastri's demise, the resolution through a secret ballot among Congress MPs and the subsequent peaceful transfer of power was widely regarded as a significant indicator of the maturity and strength of India's democratic system.
Which of the following was NOT a factor contributing to the grave economic crisis leading up to the 1967 elections?
Hint: The economic situation was generally negative.
Answer
The period leading up to 1967 saw a *drop* in industrial production and exports, not a rapid growth.
Explanation
The context of the 1967 elections was marked by a grave economic crisis, including successive monsoon failures, widespread drought, decline in agricultural production, serious food shortage, depletion of foreign exchange reserves, and a *drop* in industrial production and exports, compounded by a sharp rise in military expenditure.
What did the government's response to public protests (bandhs and hartals) before 1967 indicate?
Hint: This perception led to a disconnect between the government and the public.
Answer
The government saw the protests as a law and order problem, which further increased public bitterness and reinforced popular unrest.
Explanation
Public protests against price rise, food scarcity, and unemployment were frequent. The government, however, perceived these protests primarily as a law and order problem rather than genuine expressions of people's economic and social problems. This approach further alienated the public and intensified unrest.
Who was the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister who had serious differences with Indira Gandhi over policies like nationalisation of banks and abolition of privy purse?
Hint: He was a key figure in the Syndicate and a rival for the PM post.
Answer
Morarji Desai, then Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, had serious differences with Indira Gandhi over the nationalisation of banks and abolition of privy purse.
Explanation
Morarji Desai, who was the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, held strong reservations against Indira Gandhi's populist measures, particularly the nationalisation of banks and the abolition of privy purses. These differences led to his eventual departure from the government, highlighting the deep ideological rift within the Congress.
Indira Gandhi projected the Congress split as an ideological divide primarily to achieve what?
Hint: This was part of her strategy to build an independent political base.
Answer
Indira Gandhi projected the split as an ideological divide to mobilize popular support for her faction by appealing to socialist and pro-poor sentiments, isolating the Syndicate as conservatives.
Explanation
By framing the split as an ideological battle between socialists (her faction) and conservatives (the Syndicate/Congress(O)), Indira Gandhi effectively leveraged public sentiment. This strategy allowed her to present herself as a champion of the poor and marginalized, thus building a strong, independent nationwide political support base ahead of the crucial 1971 elections.
What was a key difference between the 'old Congress' system and the 'new Congress' under Indira Gandhi, despite the restoration of dominance?
Hint: Think about how leadership and internal party dynamics changed.
Answer
The new Congress relied entirely on the popularity of the supreme leader (Indira Gandhi), had a weaker organizational structure, and could no longer accommodate all kinds of opinions and interests as the old Congress did.
Explanation
While Indira Gandhi restored Congress's dominant position, the 'new Congress' was fundamentally different. It became highly centralized, dependent on the charisma and popularity of Indira Gandhi, and possessed a weaker organizational structure. Unlike the old Congress, which was known for absorbing tensions and conflicts through its factional system, the new Congress was less accommodative of diverse opinions and interests, leading to a shrinking space for democratic expression.
No comments:
Post a Comment