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The Crisis Of Democratic Order

Question
CBSEENPO12040642

“The Emergency, declared on 25 June, 1975, is seen a blur on Indian democracy.” What were its impact on the party system in India?

Solution
The impact of the Emergency on the party system in India was as described below :

(i) A large number of leaders and workers of the opposition parties were arrested. These arrested persons could not even challenge their arrests through habeas corpus petitions.

(ii) It is said that with the arrest of opposition leaders, India ceased to be democratic during emergency.

(iii) The Emergency led to the unity among the opposition parties. The opposition parties came together and formed the Janata Party on the eve of 1977 elections.

(iv) Some Congress leaders, who had opposed the emergency, too joined the Janata Party. A separate party-Congress for Democracy was formed by Jagjivan Ram. It later on merged with the Janata Party.

(v) In 1977 elections the Janata Party won but could not remain together. Congress once again won in 1980 elections. Between these two elections, the Congress Party changed dramatically.

(vi)It now identified itself with a particular ideology, claiming to be the only socialist and pro-poor party. The opposition, on the other hand, began to rely more and more on ‘non-Congressism’ to avoid a division of non-Congress votes in the elections.

Some More Questions From The Crisis of Democratic Order Chapter

Match the following :

What were the reasons which led to the mid-term elections in 1980 ?

The Shah Commission was appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government. Why was it appointed and what were its findings ?

What reasons did the Government give for declaring a National Emergency in 1975 ?

The 1977 elections for the first time saw the Opposition coming into power at the Centre. What would you consider as the reasons for this development ?

Discuss the effects of Emergency on the following aspects of our polity :

• Effects on civil liberties for citizens.

• Impact on relationship between the Executive and Judiciary.

• Functioning of Mass Media.

• Working of the Police and Bureaucracy.

In what way did the imposition of Emergency affect the party system in India ? Elaborate your answer with examples.

Read the passage and answer the questions below :

Indian democracy was never so close to a two-party system as it was during the 1977 elections. However, the next few years saw a complete change. Soon after its defeat, the Indian National Congress split into two groups ................ The Janata Party also went through major convulsions ........ David Butler, Ashok Lahiri and Prannoy Roy. –Partha Chatterjee

(a) What made the party system in India look like a two-party system in 1977 ?

(b) Many more than two parties existed in 1977. Why then are the authors describing this period as close to a two-party system ?

(c) What caused splits in Congress and the Janata parties ?

Describe the main causes for students unrest in Gujarat and Bihar in 1974.

Where did the Naxalite Movement begin is 1967 ?