Challenge to and Restoration of the Congress System
Unit 5. Covers Succession after Nehru; Non-Congressism and the Congress split; The 1971 elections and Garibi Hatao.
About this unit
The Congress system that dominated the first two decades came under strain in the 1960s. This unit covers the problem of succession after Nehru's death, the economic and political difficulties of the mid-1960s, the 1967 elections in which the Congress lost power in several states, the split in the Congress in 1969, and Indira Gandhi's decisive victory in 1971. It shows how a new kind of Congress dominance was restored, based more on a popular leader than on a coalition of factions.
Key ideas
- Succession after Nehru passed smoothly to Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964 and to Indira Gandhi in 1966.
- The 1967 elections were called a “political earthquake”: the Congress lost power in several states.
- Non-Congressism was a strategy to unite opposition parties against the Congress.
- Defections led to unstable coalition governments and the phrase “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram”.
- The Congress split in 1969 after the presidential election.
- In 1971 Indira Gandhi won with the slogan “Garibi Hatao”.
How to prepare
Learn the sequence of events from 1964 to 1971 and the people involved: K. Kamaraj, the “Syndicate”, Morarji Desai, V.V. Giri and N. Sanjeeva Reddy. Expect questions on reasons for the Congress's setbacks in 1967 and for its revival in 1971.
Topics in this chapter
Succession after Nehru
Political succession and the 1967 elections.
5 questionsNon-Congressism and the Congress split
Opposition unity and the split in the Congress.
5 questionsThe 1971 elections and Garibi Hatao
Indira Gandhi’s victory and its politics.
5 questions