5. Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System
The chapter outlines the political changes in India following Nehru's death, focusing on the challenges faced by the Congress Party between 1964 and the early 1970s. It discusses the rise of opposition parties, the significance of coalition governments, and the eventual election of Indira Gandhi as a powerful leader capable of restoring the Congress's dominance. The chapter concludes by highlighting the changing nature of the Congress, indicating a shift from a broad-based party aligning with various interests to a more centralized and personality-driven political organization.
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What we have learnt
- The political succession after Nehru proved successful, representing a strong democratic transition.
- The 1967 elections marked a significant decline in Congress's power, reflecting increased competition from opposition parties.
- Indira Gandhi transformed the Congress Party's ideological stance and restored its position through strategic electoral campaigns and policies.
Key Concepts
- -- Dominance of Congress
- The period during which the Congress Party was the preeminent political force in India, particularly post-Independence.
- -- Coalition Governments
- Governments formed by multiple parties coming together, usually when no single party secures a majority in elections.
- -- NonCongressism
- A term describing the political strategy of opposition parties coming together to challenge the Congress's dominance.
- -- Syndicate
- An informal group of influential Congress leaders who controlled party decisions during the 1960s.
- -- Garibi Hatao
- A slogan coined by Indira Gandhi meaning Remove Poverty, which became central to her electoral strategy in the 1970s.
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