Challenges to and Restoration of Congress System

Indira Gandhi's Consolidation of Power: • Indira Gandhi, who became PM in 1966, initially appeared to be a creature of the Congress 'Syndicate' (the old guard of state bosses — Kamaraj, S.K. Patil, Atulya Ghosh, S. Nijjalingappa). • The Syndicate expected to control her as a pliable figurehead — they were wrong. The 1969 Congress Split: • The immediate trigger was the presidential election — the Syndicate backed a conservative candidate (Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy); Indira backed V.V. Giri (a labour leader). • Giri won — with Indira's backing and left-wing support. • The Syndicate expelled Indira from Congress — she formed Congress (I) ('I' for Indira or 'Indicate'?) with left-leaning MPs. • Indira aligned with the Communists and Socialists to govern as a minority government. Populist Turn: • Indira Gandhi moved sharply to the left — to outflank the Syndicate's conservative Congress and build her own popular base. • Key populist policies: 1. Bank nationalisation (1969): 14 major commercial banks nationalised — to direct credit to agriculture and small industries, away from big business. 2. Privy purse abolition (1971): Abolished the 'privy purses' (guaranteed annual payments) to former princes who had acceded to India in 1947. 3. 'Garibi Hatao' (Remove Poverty): The slogan for the 1971 election campaign — promising the poor a direct relationship with Indira/Congress without going through intermediary castes and landlords. 1971 Election: • Indira's Congress (I) swept the election — winning 352/518 seats on the 'Garibi Hatao' wave. • This was a personalisation of Indian politics — voters were choosing Indira, not Congress. • It established the template for populist appeals to the poor over the heads of intermediate social groups — reshaping Indian electoral politics. Critiques: • The populist rhetoric was not matched by effective poverty reduction — the 'Garibi Hatao' programme delivered limited results. • It inaugurated a culture of political promises without institutional follow-through.

Growing Opposition to Indira Gandhi: • By the early 1970s, Indira Gandhi had achieved enormous popularity — the 1971 election win and the Bangladesh war triumph made her seem invincible. • But the 1972–74 period saw a serious reversal: the oil shock, inflation, food scarcity, corruption, and authoritarianism eroded her support. Nav Nirman Movement (Gujarat, 1974): • A student movement in Gujarat against corruption, price rise, and hoarding. • Students took to the streets, attacked offices, and demanded dissolution of the state assembly. • The movement succeeded — President's Rule was imposed and fresh elections held. • Nav Nirman ('New Creation') demonstrated that popular movements could challenge Congress-ruled state governments. 1974 Railway Strike: • George Fernandes (socialist trade union leader) led a nationwide railway strike — the largest industrial action in Indian history. • 1.7 million railway workers struck — demanding better wages. • Indira Gandhi's response was harsh: arrested thousands of striking workers, used force, and broke the strike. • This suppression alarmed civil liberties advocates and trade unionists. Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) Movement / 'Total Revolution': • JP (Jayaprakash Narayan) — the legendary socialist and freedom fighter — emerged from retirement to lead a nationwide movement against Indira Gandhi's government. • JP's demand: 'Total Revolution' (Sampoorna Kranti) — not just a change of government but a transformation of the political system. • The movement spread across Bihar and then nationally — involving students, opposition parties, and the RSS. • JP gave a call to the armed forces and police to refuse unconstitutional orders — seen by Indira as sedition. Allahabad High Court Judgment (June 1975): • Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha found Indira Gandhi guilty of two counts of electoral malpractice in her 1971 election — and ordered her removed from the Lok Sabha. • Indira appealed to the Supreme Court — which granted a conditional stay. • The JP movement demanded her resignation. • On 25 June 1975, Indira Gandhi declared the Emergency.

The Emergency (June 1975 – March 1977): • On 25 June 1975, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed proclaimed a state of National Emergency under Article 352 — on the advice of Indira Gandhi's cabinet. • The stated reason: 'Internal disturbance' threatening the security of India. • The real reason: Indira Gandhi wanted to circumvent the Allahabad High Court judgment and suppress the JP movement. Measures During the Emergency: • Preventive detention: Thousands of opposition leaders and activists were arrested without trial — JP, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, George Fernandes. • Press censorship: Newspapers were censored — some offices had power cut to prevent printing. • Fundamental rights suspended: Right to life (Article 21) was suspended — the Supreme Court (in the ADM Jabalpur case) controversially ruled that even the right to life could be suspended. • Parliament amended the Constitution: The 42nd Amendment ('Mini-Constitution') — concentrated power in the PM and Parliament. • Forced sterilisation: Sanjay Gandhi (Indira's son) ran an aggressive family planning programme — forced sterilisation was widely reported, especially targeting minority and poor communities. This caused enormous resentment. Brightside (claimed by supporters): • Industrial production rose, prices stabilised, trains ran on time. • 20-point economic programme promised development. 1977 Election — Congress Defeated: • Indira Gandhi, confident of victory, lifted the Emergency and called elections (March 1977). • The result was a massive shock: the opposition Janata Party coalition swept to power — Congress was reduced to 154 seats. • Morarji Desai became PM. • The Emergency had united the opposition and alienated voters. Janata Government (1977–79): • The Janata government was a coalition of disparate groups — Socialists, Jana Sangh, Congress (O), Charan Singh's Lok Dal. • Internal squabbles paralysed it — the government collapsed in 1979 and Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980. Legacy of the Emergency: • The Emergency showed Indian democracy was fragile — it could be suspended by executive fiat. • But the 1977 election showed India's voters would punish authoritarianism. • The 44th Amendment (1978, Janata government) made it harder to declare Emergency — requiring cabinet approval in writing.