Plus 2 chapter 5
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After Nehru's death in 1964, India faced political and economic challenges. Shastri and Indira Gandhi succeeded Nehru as Prime Ministers. Indira Gandhi faced opposition from the "Syndicate" of senior Congress leaders and adopted more left-leaning policies. This led to a split in the Congress party in 1969. Indira formed the Congress (R) faction while the old guard formed Congress (O). In the 1971 elections, Indira campaigned on promises of removing poverty and inequality. Riding on issues of land reform and development, her Garibi Hatao message secured an overwhelming victory for Congress (R), restoring the dominance of the Congress system in India.
Plus 2 chapter 5
- 1. CONTENTS POLITICAL CHANGES AFTER NEHRU HOW OPPOSING UNITY AND SPLIT IN CONGRESS? CREATED PROBLEMS FOR THE CONGRESS PARTY HOW INDIA SOLVED THESE PROBLEMS? HOW NEW POLICIES AND IDEOLOGIES OF THE CONGRESS RESTORED THE CONGRESS SYSTEM? Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System
- 2. Political Succession After Nehru, who ? He passed away in 1964 discussions – a failure in this line of democracy army taking over unsolved problems like inequality, poverty and communal divisions could lead to failure of democracy or even national disintegration.
- 3. Nehru to Shastri Shastri succeeded Nehru with much ease. The congress President K. Kamaraj in consultation with the party leaders found a consensus candidate in Lal Bahadur Shastri unanimously elected him as their leader and second prime minister of India no controversy and great simplicity. Experience- member of Nehru ministry. Nehru depended him in many cases during his illness. Resigned as railway minister accepting the moral responsibility for a major railway accident.
- 4. Challenges of Shastri • Chinal war inflicted big dent in Indian economy. • Failure of monsoon • Drought • Shortage of food • War with Paksitan in 1965
- 5. Jai Jawan Jai Kissan- slogan of shastri showed the determination of him to face the challenges. He died in 1966 in Thashkent . He had gone to sign an agreement with Ayub Khan the then President of Pakistan. He had been a minister in UP government, Union Minister for Railways and finally the Prime Minister of India.
- 6. Shastri to Indira Gandhi After the death of Shastriji, there was a stiff competition between Morarji Deshai and Indira Gandhi for succession. Seniors backed Indira Gandhi expecting her to consult them on various matters as she had little experience as minister. But it was not unanimous- secret ballot election- Indira Gandhi secured two third majority. Maturrity of democracy. Morarji Deshai- Chief Minister of Bombay, Minister at the Centre. Indira Gandhi- President of the Congress, Minister for Information. Economic condition of India was worse. She had to face the election within an year. She tried to get more control over the party.
- 7. Fourth General Elections, 1967 Failure of monsoons Fall in agricultural production Food shortage Drop in industrial production Thin foreign exchange reserves and rising military expense Economic Crisis
- 8. Change in Political beliefs. • Devalue the rupee. • US pressure could be seen as a reason. • Price of essential commodities shot up. • Rising prices • Food shortage • Unemployment • Protest from people • Bandhs and hartals • Govt. took it as a matter of law and order. • Added fuel to the unrest and bitterness. • Protest from communist party and Socialist Party. • CPI(ML) broke away from CPI (M) to organize armed agragarian protests. • Several communal riots ( Hindu - Muslim riots)
- 9. Non Congressism Opposition parties organized protests and pressurized Govt. They realized that lack of unity kept the congress in power. They came together and made a united front setting aside their ideologies and policies. All sorts of electoral adjustments and seat sharing were resorted to. It was the ideal time to make use the inexperience of Indira Gandhi and the internal groupism in Congress. Ram Manohar Lohia- Non Congressism- No benefit for ordinary people from Congress rule and undemocratic. To redeem democracy, opposition parties should come together sinking all their differences and defeat the congress party.
- 10. Electoral Verdict Fourth general elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies in 1967-congress faced discontent and criticism of the rulers and polarization of political parties- Congress party faced the first election without Nehru. Political Earthquake – In Lok Sabha, Congress had majority, but with lowest majority of seats and votes- Half of ministers failed- Political stalwarts lost their seats –In seven states, congress lost its majority and in other two defection was reported. So could not form Government. DMK- first regional party secured majority and came to power – DMK led massive anti- Hindi agitations as Government tried to impose Hindi as the official language.
- 11. Defection Key role in making or unmaking Govts. in states after general elections. Leaving one political party and joining another which is considered to be an enemy is defection. After 1967 elections, some of the congress legislators broke away from the fold and helped other parties to make govt. Special phrase- Aya Ram Gaya Ram- Ram came and Ram went- Gaya Lal, a MLA changed his party thrice in a week. Govt. of India amended the constitution to prevent such situation.
- 12. Split in the Congress With small majority, Congress retained power at the centre, lost hold in many of the states. This election proved that the Congress could be defeated. Many had believed that Congress in India was invincible, but election proved this belief was wrong. There was no substitute for Congress. Many coalitions fell, few survived, new combinations were made President’s rule.
- 13. Indira vs the Syndicate Indira faced opposition from the seniors as they expected more favors and privileges and even they wanted her to follow their advice on all important matters. But she did not do that. She had a line of outside advisors of her own choice. She took their advice as well as she sidlined the syndicate of seniors. She had to bring Congress to the situation prior to the 1967 elections. Also she had to break herself free from the influence of the Syndicate.
- 14. Indira adopted a broad strategy- convert simple power struggle to an ideological struggle. Took a left turn- Ten point programme-Social control of banks, nationalization of insurance, ceiling on urban property income, PDS, land reforms and provision for house sites to the poor. The syndicate approved but they have their own reservation on the left turn.
- 15. Presidential Election - 1969 A new president had to be elected when Zakir Hussain had died. Syndicate nominated N. Sajeeva Reddy as the presidential candidate who was the number one opponent of Indira Gandhi. She asked the Vice President to file his nomination as an independent candidate as she didn’t want to brook any opposition to her plans. Added rift with Syndicate. New popular policies - nationalization of Private Banks, abolition of privileges enjoyed by the former princes.
- 16. Morarji Deshai was the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister. Differences emerged between both on various issues especially on Presidential election. There had been differences in congress before. At the time of presidential election, Congress President S Nijaligappa through a Whip asked all Congress MPs and MLAs to vote for the official candidate Sanjeeva Reddy. Mrs. Gandhi silently supported V.V. Giri and openly called for a conscience vote.
- 17. She sent message that she wanted all the MPs and MLAs to vote as per the dictates of their conscience. Result- Vice President President. Official candidate failed split in Congress Mrs. Gandhi was expelled from Congress. She said her group was the real congress. Congress (O)- led by the leaders of Syndicate- O stood for Organization also known as Old congress. Congress ( R)- Indira Gandhi group- R stood for Requisitionists as they requested for special meeting of AICC. Also known as new Congress. Ideological division- Pro poor and Pro rich, Conservatives and Socialists. Nijalingappa – Indira Gandhi- Victim of Political Narcissism egged on by coterie of unscrupulous sycophants expelled her from Congress.
- 18. The 1971 Election and Restoration of Congress Split Indira Gandhi Govt to minority. She remained in power with the help of DMK and CPI. Projected socialist credentials of the Government. Campaigned for implementation of existing land reform laws- special interest to formulate land ceiling laws. In December 1970, she recommended dissolution of Lok Sabha. Reasons- depend on other party support to take various measures for the good of the country, strengthen her stand by facing people for a fresh mandate. This surprised every one.
- 19. The Contest Election Scenario- anti congress( R). Reduced to a weakling. Non communist and non communist parties formed Grand alliance. Indira Gandhi with CPI- rather dim for the ruling party- silver lining. The new congress had its own agenda and positive slogan – opponents lacked both- no coherent political programme. Indira said, Grand alliance had only common programme, Indira Hatao- removing Indira. She came with positive programmes- Garibi Hatao means remove poverty.
- 20. Aim and effect of Garibi Hatao • Build a nationwide base of Political support • The minorities, women, unemployed youth took her as saviour • Impose ceiling on rural land holdings and urban property • Develop Public Sector Remove privy Purse Remove inequality in income and opportunity Dalits and Adivasis favorable Support from landless labouring class
- 21. The Results of Lok Sabha Election 1971 Election and results were dramatic and surprising. New Congress –CPI alliance won more seats and votes than the Congress had ever won in the four general elections. 375 seats and 48.4% votes Congress- 352 seats and 44% votes. Old congress satisfied with just 16 seats and Indira Gandhi proved that her Congress was the real congress. Congress once again restored to power and Grand alliance Grand failure East Pakistan crisis , birth of Bangladesh, war with Pakistan added glory to Indira Gandhi. Even opponents praised her. She was considered as the protector of poor and downtrodden. Stunning victory in state assembly election in 1972
- 22. Restoration Before split- Congress had populatiry, lacked organisational structure relying on the popularity of the single leader The New congress had great political dominance. Very less groups or factions. Could not accommodate all the opinions. Victory from social groups like women, adivasis, Dalits and minorities Earlier congress could absorb al tensions. But it was not possible for new congress. Dominance restored . But no space for the people to express their political aspirations. Unrest about developmental and economic deprivation Political crisis and jeopardise democracy Restoration