Succession after Nehru

The essentials

Many observers doubted whether Indian democracy would survive Nehru's death in May 1964. In fact, succession was smooth. The Congress president K. Kamaraj consulted party leaders and MPs, and Lal Bahadur Shastri was chosen unanimously as Prime Minister. Shastri faced the 1965 war with Pakistan and a serious food crisis; his slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” reflected both challenges. He died suddenly in Tashkent in January 1966.

There was a contest the second time. Indira Gandhi was chosen over Morarji Desai in a secret ballot among Congress MPs. Senior leaders who backed her expected her to depend on their advice. The 1966 devaluation of the rupee, rising prices and food shortages made the government unpopular.

Key points

• The Syndicate was an informal group of powerful Congress organisational leaders, including K. Kamaraj, S.K. Patil, Atulya Ghosh, S. Nijalingappa and N. Sanjeeva Reddy.
• The fourth general election of 1967 was called a political earthquake. The Congress kept a reduced majority in the Lok Sabha but lost power in several states.
• In Madras (later Tamil Nadu) the DMK won a clear majority on its own, after a movement against the imposition of Hindi.
• In several other states, coalition governments of non-Congress parties, called Samyukta Vidhayak Dal (SVD) governments, were formed.
• Defections became common. The phrase “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” came from an MLA in Haryana who changed parties several times in a short time.

Exam tips

• Remember: Shastri 1964–66; Indira Gandhi from 1966; elections 1967.
• Be able to explain why the 1967 results were called an earthquake.

Common mistakes

• Thinking Congress lost the Lok Sabha in 1967; it lost several states but kept a majority at the Centre.
• Thinking Indira Gandhi was chosen unopposed; Morarji Desai contested.