Introduction

• The Congress system was dominant in Indian politics after independence.
• However, in the 1960s, Congress faced political, economic, and social challenges.
• The party started losing its influence, leading to a phase of political instability.
• Indira Gandhi emerged as a strong leader, restoring Congress’s dominance by the early 1970s.

Challenges to the Congress System

After Jawaharlal Nehru’s death in 1964, the Congress faced several challenges:

Economic Challenges

• Food shortages, droughts, and inflation created public discontent.
• High poverty and unemployment made the government unpopular.
• India fought wars with China (1962) and Pakistan (1965), which strained the economy.

Political Challenges

• Nehru’s strong leadership had kept Congress united, but after his death, factionalism grew.
• Lal Bahadur Shastri became PM (1964-66) but died suddenly in 1966.
• The party was divided between old Congress leaders (Syndicate) and Indira Gandhi’s faction.

Rise of Opposition Parties

• Regional parties and opposition groups gained strength.
• Socialists, communists, and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) challenged Congress.

The 1967 Elections and the Political Crisis

The Fourth General Elections (1967)

• The first major decline in Congress’s electoral performance.
• Congress lost its majority in 9 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu.
• The Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), Swatantra Party, and socialists formed coalition governments in some states.

Emergence of Coalition Politics

• Non-Congress parties formed alliances to challenge Congress.
• The first time since independence that Congress was not the dominant party in many states.

Split in the Congress Party (1969)

Conflict Between Indira Gandhi and the Syndicate

• The Syndicate was a group of senior Congress leaders who wanted to control the party.
• Indira Gandhi wanted to assert her independent leadership.
• The major clash occurred over the election of the President of India in 1969.

Presidential Election and Party Split

• Indira Gandhi supported V.V. Giri as President, while the Syndicate backed N. Sanjeeva Reddy.
• V.V. Giri won the election, leading to a split in Congress:
  • Congress (O) – led by the Syndicate (Old Congress).
  • Congress (R) – led by Indira Gandhi (Requisitionists).
• Indira Gandhi’s faction became the real Congress, gaining massive public support.

Indira Gandhi’s Strategy to Restore Congress’s Dominance

Pro-Poor and Socialist Policies

Indira Gandhi adopted radical economic policies to strengthen her support base:

• Nationalization of Banks (1969) – To provide loans to farmers and weaker sections.
• Abolition of Privy Purses (1971) – Removed special privileges of former princely rulers.
• Ten-Point Program – Focused on land reforms, poverty alleviation, and workers’ rights.

Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty) Slogan

• Indira Gandhi made poverty removal her central campaign theme in the 1971 elections.
• Appealed directly to the poor, marginalized groups, and youth.

The 1971 Elections and Indira Gandhi’s Victory

Fifth General Elections (1971)

• Indira Gandhi’s Congress (R) won a massive victory (352 out of 518 seats).
• The opposition alliance (Grand Alliance) was completely defeated.
• Indira Gandhi’s leadership was now unquestioned.

Role of the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971)

• India supported Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan.
• Victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War boosted Indira Gandhi’s popularity.
• India signed the Simla Agreement (1972) with Pakistan, securing peace in the region.

Conclusion

• The Congress system was weakened in the late 1960s due to economic problems, opposition alliances, and internal conflicts.
• Indira Gandhi, through strong leadership and pro-poor policies, restored Congress’s dominance by the 1971 elections.
• Her victory marked a shift to a more centralized and personality-driven politics in India.