Plus 2 chapter 5

Plus two politics 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. 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.

5. 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.

6. Fourth General Elections, 1967

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Aim and effect of Garibi Hatao

19. The Results of Lok Sabha Election 1971

20. Restoration