Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System

The One Thing

After the 1967 general elections, the Congress system was challenged by electoral decline in the states, opposition alliances, defections, social and economic tensions, and internal factionalism. Indira Gandhi restored Congress dominance through the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, but the restored system was more centralised and dependent on her personal leadership than the earlier Congress system.

Chronology

Who and What

• Congress System: A political arrangement in which Congress acted as the central, dominant party while accommodating different social groups, regions, and ideological viewpoints within its broad organisation. Its restoration after 1971 differed from the earlier system because it became more centralised and dependent on Indira Gandhi.
• 1967 General Elections: The fourth general elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. They marked the first major decline of Congress dominance, particularly in the states, although Congress continued to form the Union government.
• Non-Congressism: The strategy associated with opposition leader Ram Manohar Lohia of uniting different opposition parties mainly to defeat Congress, despite their ideological differences.
• Coalition Government: A government formed by two or more parties when no single party has enough seats to govern alone.
• Samyukta Vidhayak Dal: Also known as the United Legislators’ Front, it brought together different opposition parties to form governments in some states.
• Defection: The act of an elected representative changing political parties after being elected, often producing changes in government and political instability.
• Aya Ram, Gaya Ram: A popular expression describing frequent party switching by legislators, particularly during the political instability of the late 1960s.
• Congress Split of 1969: The division of Congress into Congress (Organisation), or Congress (O), led by the old leadership, and Congress (Requisitionists), or Congress (R), led by Indira Gandhi.
• Syndicate: The group of senior Congress leaders whose conflict with Indira Gandhi contributed to the Congress split in 1969.
• Presidential Election of 1969: The contest in which Indira Gandhi supported V. V. Giri against the official Congress candidate, N. Sanjiva Reddy. It intensified the conflict within Congress.
• Congress (O): Congress (Organisation), the faction led by senior traditional Congress leaders after the 1969 split.
• Congress (R): Congress (Requisitionists), the faction led by Indira Gandhi after the 1969 split. It later became the main Congress organisation.
• Garibi Hatao: The slogan meaning “Remove Poverty,” used by Indira Gandhi during the 1971 election campaign to associate Congress (R) with poverty removal and social and economic change.
• Grand Alliance: The alliance of opposition parties that performed poorly against Congress (R) in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections.
• Restoration of the Congress System: The return of Congress to a dominant position after its victory in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections. This was not a return to the exact earlier Congress system, since dominance was now more strongly centred on Indira Gandhi’s leadership.

Causes and Consequences

• The 1967 electoral setback weakened Congress dominance.

Congress remained in power at the Centre but lost power in several states. This showed that Congress was no longer electorally unchallengeable and that Indian democracy was becoming more competitive.

• The growth of opposition unity produced non-Congress governments.

Through Non-Congressism, associated with Ram Manohar Lohia, opposition parties united primarily to defeat Congress. Coalitions and alliances formed governments in Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The Samyukta Vidhayak Dal, or United Legislators’ Front, was one mechanism through which opposition parties formed governments.

• Opposition alliances were often unstable because they lacked a common programme.

Since opposition unity was frequently based more on opposition to Congress than on ideological agreement, coalition governments were vulnerable to internal disagreements and defections.

• Defections destabilised state politics.

The frequent movement of elected representatives between parties, described by the expression “Aya Ram, Gaya Ram,” caused repeated changes in government during the late 1960s. Defection therefore intensified the political instability created by fragmented electoral outcomes.

• Economic difficulties, social inequalities, regional aspirations, and internal factionalism created further challenges.

The Congress system was challenged not only by opposition parties but also by pressures within society and by conflicts within Congress itself.

• The 1969 Congress split resulted from conflict between Indira Gandhi and the Syndicate.

Major issues included the Presidential Election and Indira Gandhi’s policy of nationalising 14 major commercial banks. Her support for V. V. Giri against the official Congress candidate, N. Sanjiva Reddy, deepened the conflict and contributed to the division between Congress (O) and Congress (R).

• Indira Gandhi used policy measures to construct an independent political base.

Bank nationalisation and the abolition of the privy purses and privileges of former princes presented her government as committed to economic and social change. These measures also helped distinguish her leadership from that of the traditional Congress organisation.

• The 1971 election campaign converted policy and leadership into a direct popular appeal.

The slogan “Garibi Hatao,” meaning “Remove Poverty,” focused the campaign on poverty removal, disadvantaged groups, and independent leadership. This reduced the importance of older organisational divisions and strengthened Indira Gandhi’s personal appeal.

• The 1971 victory restored Congress dominance in a transformed form.

Congress (R) won a clear majority in the Lok Sabha elections, while the Grand Alliance performed poorly. Congress therefore returned to a dominant position, but the restored system was more centralised and more dependent on the Prime Minister’s leadership than the earlier Congress system.

What Gets Asked

• Explain why the 1967 General Elections marked a major challenge to the Congress System despite Congress retaining power at the Centre.
• Assess the importance of Non-Congressism, coalition governments, the Samyukta Vidhayak Dal, defections, and the expression “Aya Ram, Gaya Ram” in the political instability of the late 1960s.
• Explain the causes and significance of the Congress Split of 1969, including the role of the Syndicate, the Presidential Election, V. V. Giri, N. Sanjiva Reddy, and the division between Congress (O) and Congress (R).
• Evaluate the importance of nationalising 14 major commercial banks and abolishing the privy purses and privileges of former princes in Indira Gandhi’s political strategy.
• Explain how the “Garibi Hatao” campaign and the 1971 victory of Congress (R) restored Congress dominance.
• Compare the earlier Congress System with its restoration after 1971, focusing on the greater centralisation and personal importance of Indira Gandhi’s leadership.