Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress system

Question

Analyse the circumstances that led to the restoration of Congress system after
the party’s split in 1969.

Answer

 Socialists credentials, Ten point programme, Nationalisation of Banks, Nationalisation of General Insurance, Pro-poor programmes.
 Land Reforms, Land Celling Act.
 GaribiHatao – Positive programme.
 Abolition of Privy Purse.
 Generation of a support base among the disadvantaged, landless Labourors, dalits, adivasis, minorities, women and unemployed youth.
 Results of the General Elections 1971 – Congress Victory.
 Victory in the Indo-Pak War 1971 – Indira Gandhi seen as the protector of the poor & the underprivileged but also as a strong nationalist leader.
 Sweeping through State Assembly Elections in 1972 by the Congress.  With two successive election victories, one at the Center and the other at the State level, the dominance of the Congress was restored.
 Indira Gandhi had reinvented the party – It relied on the popularity of a supreme leader. It had a weak organizational structure and did not have many factions. She restored the Congress by changing the nature of the Congress itself.

Sponsor Area

Some More Questions From Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress system Chapter

How should a political party resolve its internal differences ? Here are some suggestions. Think of each and list out their advantages and shortcomings.

(a) Follow the footsteps of the party president

(b) Listen to the majority group

(c) Secret ballot voting on every issue

(d) Consult the senior and experienced leaders of the party

State which of these were reasons for the defeat of the Congress in 1967. Give reasons for your answer.

(a) The absence of a charismatic leader in the Congress party

(b) Split within the Congress party

(c) Increased mobilisation of regional, ethnic and communal groups

(d) Increased unity among non-Congress parties

(e) Internal differences within the Congress party

What were the factors which led to the popularity of Indira Gandhi’s Government in the early 1970s ?

What does the term ‘syndicate’ mean in the context of the Congress party of the sixties ? What role did the Syndicate play in the Congress party ?

Discuss the major issue which led to the formal split of the Congress Party in 1969.

Read the passage and answer the questions below : ... Indira Gandhi changed the Congress into highly centralised and undemocratic party organisation, from the earlier federal, democratic and ideological formation that Nehru had led.....But this ... could not have happened had not Indira Gandhi changed the entire nature of politics. This new. populist politics turned political ideology ....... into a mere electoral discourse, use of various slogans not meant to be translated into government policies ...... During its great electoral victories in early 1970s, amidst the celebration, the Congress party as a political organisation died................—Sudipta Kaviraj

(a) What according to the author is the difference between the strategies of Nehru and Indira Gandhi ?

(b) Why does the author say that the Congress party ‘died’ in the seventies ?

(c) In what way, did the change in the Congress party affect other political parties also ?

Who said the famous slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ ?

Who started the slogan ‘garibi hatao’ ?

Which popular policy measures were taken by Indira Gandhi?

What is the full form of SVD?