Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System

Challenge of Political Succession

Nehru’s Death and Succession Anxiety: Nehru’s death in May 1964 created uncertainty about India’s political future. Given Nehru's central role, there were fears that democratic governance in India might collapse, akin to other post-colonial nations.
Lal Bahadur Shastri's Ascension: The Congress leadership, under K. Kamaraj, quickly resolved the succession issue, unanimously selecting Lal Bahadur Shastri, known for his humility, simplicity, and strong moral compass (he once resigned from the Railway Ministry after a train accident).
Shastri’s Challenges: Shastri's tenure (1964-66) was brief but turbulent. India grappled with post-China war economic distress, drought-induced food shortages, and the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Shastri’s slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” became iconic as it rallied the nation around farmers and soldiers, symbolizing resilience.
Shastri's Sudden Death: Shastri died unexpectedly in 1966 after signing the Tashkent Agreement with Pakistan. His death led to another succession dilemma within two years.

Political Landscape Shift: The 1967 elections marked a dramatic shift in Indian politics. For the first time, Congress faced a significant electoral challenge, indicating the weakening of its dominance after ruling the country without challenge since independence.
Economic Crisis and Public Discontent: India was reeling under economic stress—drought, high inflation, and food shortages. These issues, compounded by rising unemployment and dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of economic affairs, led to frequent protests and strikes.
Results: Congress retained a majority in the Lok Sabha but with reduced strength. In states like Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, non-Congress parties formed coalition governments, signaling a new era of regional and opposition party power.

Opposition Unity: Opposition parties, realizing their electoral weakness when contesting separately, united under the banner of ‘Non-Congressism,’ a strategy developed by socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia. He argued that Congress had become anti-democratic and that its dominance needed to be challenged for the sake of reclaiming democracy.
Ideological Divergence: Despite vast ideological differences, non-Congress parties came together to contest elections against Congress, forming alliances at both the national and state levels. The unity of these disparate groups reflected their shared goal of toppling Congress.

Rise of Coalitions: The 1967 elections resulted in several coalition governments, particularly at the state level. These coalitions were known as SVD (Samyukt Vidhayak Dal) governments. In Punjab and Bihar, the ruling coalitions consisted of ideologically opposed parties such as the Jana Sangh, socialists, and communists.
Inherent Instability: These coalitions were often unstable due to their inherent contradictions. For example, in Bihar, the coalition included both socialists (on the left) and the Jana Sangh (on the right). This ideological mismatch often led to internal conflicts and short-lived governments.

Political Instability through Defections: After the 1967 elections, defections (floor crossing) became a significant factor in Indian politics. Elected representatives frequently switched parties, causing instability.
Gaya Lal’s Role: The phrase “Aya Ram, Gaya Ram” originated from the actions of Gaya Lal, an MLA from Haryana, who switched political allegiance multiple times in a short period. This frequent defection undermined government stability in many states, forcing coalition governments to collapse.

Congress Divided: In 1969, a formal split occurred within the Congress party. The two factions were Congress (Organisation), controlled by the ‘Syndicate,’ and Congress (Requisitionists), led by Indira Gandhi.
Key Issues Leading to the Split: The key issue was the presidential election of 1969, where the Syndicate’s candidate, N. Sanjeeva Reddy, was defeated by V.V. Giri, whom Indira Gandhi covertly supported. This defiance of the party’s official candidate triggered the final break.

Tensions with the Syndicate: The ‘Syndicate’ was a group of senior Congress leaders, including K. Kamaraj, S. Nijalingappa, and Atulya Ghosh, who had played a major role in controlling party affairs. They believed Indira Gandhi, initially seen as politically inexperienced, would remain under their influence.
Indira’s Rise to Power: Indira Gandhi gradually sidelined the Syndicate by asserting her independence. She pursued a left-leaning economic agenda, introducing policies such as bank nationalization and abolishing the privy purses of former princes.
Ten-Point Programme: To consolidate her control, Indira adopted a Ten-Point Programme in 1967, which included socialist policies like land reforms, social control of banks, and public distribution of food grains, aligning with the pro-poor stance.

Early Elections: In a bold move, Indira Gandhi dissolved the Lok Sabha in December 1970 and called for early elections in 1971 to solidify her political position.
Garibi Hatao Campaign: Indira’s Congress (R) launched the famous “Garibi Hatao” (Remove Poverty) slogan, which resonated deeply with the masses, particularly the poor, landless laborers, Dalits, Adivasis, and women.
Victory and Consolidation: The 1971 election was a resounding success for Indira Gandhi’s faction, which won 352 out of 518 seats in the Lok Sabha. This overwhelming victory restored Congress’s dominance and solidified Indira Gandhi's position as the unchallenged leader.

Transformation, Not Restoration: Indira Gandhi’s victory was not merely a return to the old Congress system but a re-invention. The new Congress (R) was more centralized and depended heavily on Indira’s popularity. It lacked the inclusive factionalism of the past, which had allowed the old Congress to accommodate diverse opinions and social groups.
Popular Support and Authoritarian Tendencies: While the new Congress won broad support from marginalized sections, it was less democratic and more authoritarian. The party’s internal democracy diminished, and its governance became highly centralized around Indira Gandhi’s personality.