Worksheet Solutions: Challenges to and Restoration of Congress System

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: After Jawaharlal Nehru's death, the discussion of political successor started, and Lal Bahadur Shastri was chosen as the Prime Minister through consultation because of his __________ and ___________.
Ans: simplicity, commitment to principles
After Jawaharlal Nehru's death, the discussion of a political successor started, and Lal Bahadur Shastri was chosen as the Prime Minister through consultation because of his simplicity and commitment to principles. He had resigned earlier from the position of Railway Minister accepting moral responsibility for a major railway accident. His non-controversial image and dedication made him acceptable to different factions within the Congress.

Q2: In the 1967 elections, due to constant realignments, the term 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram' was coined, indicating ____________.
Ans: political defections
In the 1967 elections, frequent switching of party allegiance by elected representatives led to the phrase 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram,' which captured the problem of political defections and unstable loyalties.

Q3: Indira Gandhi announced the nationalization of __________ leading private banks and the abolition of the 'privy purse,' leading to the formal split in the party.
Ans: fourteen
Indira Gandhi announced the nationalization of fourteen major private banks and the abolition of the 'privy purse.' These measures were decisive and populist, widening the gulf between her and the Congress old-guard, and contributing to the formal split in the party.

Q4: The famous slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' symbolized India's resolve during ____________.
Ans: Shastri's tenure
The slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' became associated with Lal Bahadur Shastri's tenure; it emphasised the twin priorities of national defence and agricultural recovery during the food crisis and the 1965 war with Pakistan.

Q5: The political alliance formed by non-communist, non-congress opposition parties in the 1971 elections was known as ____________.
Ans: Grand Alliance
The grouping of non-communist, non-Congress opposition parties that united to oppose Indira Gandhi in 1971 was called the Grand Alliance; its purpose was to mount a coordinated challenge to Congress rule.

Q6: The year 1967 is considered a landmark year due to India's political and electoral history because it marked the rise of ____________.
Ans: coalitions
The 1967 elections produced a fractured verdict in many states and at the Centre, ushering in coalition politics where regional and non-Congress parties formed alliances to govern.

Q7: The term 'Syndicate' referred to a group of powerful and influential leaders within the ____________ party.
Ans: Congress
The term 'Syndicate' described the group of senior and influential Congress leaders who exercised collective control over party decisions and often clashed with Indira Gandhi's leadership.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: The 1967 elections marked a significant shift in Indian politics.
Reason: Constant realignments and shifting political loyalties gave rise to the expression 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram.'
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false.
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: The 1967 elections brought a major change - Congress lost ground in several states and a number of non-Congress coalitions emerged, marking a shift from single-party dominance.
(ii) Reason: The frequent defections and shifting loyalties among legislators produced the phrase 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram,' reflecting political instability.
(iii) Justification: These defections and realignments were a direct cause of the weakened position of the Congress and the rise of coalition formations, so the Reason explains why the 1967 elections signalled a political shift.

Q2: Assertion: The 'Grand Alliance' in the 1971 elections failed to secure a significant number of seats.
Reason: Indira Gandhi's positive political strategy, encapsulated in the slogan 'Garibi Hatao,' gained widespread support.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false.
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: The Grand Alliance failed to dislodge Indira Gandhi and did not win the decisive support it needed in 1971.
(ii) Reason: Indira Gandhi's campaign emphasised poverty removal through the slogan 'Garibi Hatao,' which appealed widely to voters.
(iii) Justification: The pro-poor message and concrete policy moves attracted mass support for Indira Gandhi, undermining the Grand Alliance's challenge; thus the Reason explains the Assertion.

Q3: Assertion: The term 'Syndicate' referred to a group of powerful leaders within the Congress.
Reason: Indira Gandhi faced challenges from the Syndicate, which led to a split in the party.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false.
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: 'Syndicate' denoted the collective of senior Congress leaders who held significant influence in the party machine.
(ii) Reason: The Syndicate opposed Indira Gandhi's independent decisions and candidate choices, creating a confrontation that culminated in a formal split.
(iii) Justification: The clash over control and the Presidential election of 1969 exposed the rift; the Syndicate's opposition was a key factor in the party's division, so the Reason explains the Assertion.

Q4: Assertion: The slogan 'Garibi Hatao' was a part of Indira Gandhi's political strategy to build an independent political support base.
Reason: The positive programmes advocated by Indira Gandhi strengthened the spaces for democratic expression.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false.
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: 'Garibi Hatao' was central to Indira Gandhi's effort to build direct popular support independent of traditional party elites.
(ii) Reason: Her programmes presented a visible pro-poor agenda but the spaces for democratic expression of people's aspirations actually shrank.
(iii) Justification: The assertion is correct as the slogan helped her generate support among the disadvantaged sections, but the reason is false because the new Congress relied more on the supreme leader and had a weaker organisational structure that could not accommodate diverse opinions and interests.

Very Short Answer Type Answer

Q1: Who succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru as the Prime Minister?
Ans: Lal Bahadur Shastri

Q2: What did the slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' symbolize?
Ans: It symbolised India's determination to strengthen both national defence and agricultural production during the food crisis and the 1965 war with Pakistan.

Q3: What phenomenon did the 1967 elections bring into the picture?
Ans: Coalitions

Q4: What was the term coined for the frequent political defections during this period?
Ans: 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram'

Q5: Who was the leader backed by senior party leaders after Lal Bahadur Shastri's death?
Ans: Indira Gandhi

Q6: What did the Grand Alliance focus on during the 1971 elections?
Ans: Its primary aim was to remove Indira Gandhi from power (Indira Hatao).

Q7: Which event marked the formal split in the Congress party?
Ans: The Presidential election of 1969, when Indira Gandhi's preferred candidate won against the Syndicate's choice, marked the formal split.

Q8: What did Indira Gandhi announce regarding banks, leading to the split in the party?
Ans: Nationalisation of fourteen leading private banks.

Q9: Who were the two main contenders for succession after Lal Bahadur Shastri's death?
Ans: Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi

Q10: What strategy did Ram Manohar Lohia give the name 'Tion-congressism' to?
Ans: He used this term to describe the strategy of non-Congress parties attempting to topple the Congress government by exploiting its internal factionalism and Indira Gandhi's perceived inexperience.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Explain the challenges faced by Lal Bahadur Shastri during his tenure as Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966.
Ans: Shastri confronted two major challenges:

• A severe food shortage that required urgent agricultural and food-security measures.
  
• The 1965 war with Pakistan that demanded firm leadership on defence and national morale.
  

His slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' captured the need to strengthen both the armed forces and farmers to meet these crises.

Q2: Describe the political scenario during the fourth general elections in 1967 and its impact on the Congress party.
Ans: The 1967 elections saw rising economic distress, law-and-order problems and growing public dissatisfaction. Opposition parties formed alliances and made gains in many states. As a result:

• Congress lost its dominant position in several state assemblies.
  
• Frequent defections and shifting loyalties ('Aya Ram, Gaya Ram') weakened party unity.
  

These developments marked the end of unquestioned Congress dominance and opened the way for coalition politics.

Q3: Explain the split within the Congress party after the 1967 elections.
Ans: The split arose from a clash between Indira Gandhi and the party's powerful group known as the 'Syndicate.' Key points:

• The Syndicate sought to control party decisions and opposed some of Indira Gandhi's choices.
  
• The conflict escalated during the Presidential election of 1969, when Indira Gandhi backed a candidate opposed by the Syndicate.
  
• The outcome consolidated Indira Gandhi's position and formalised the party's division into pro-Indira and anti-Indira factions.

Q4: Discuss the factors that led to the formation of the Grand Alliance during the 1971 elections and its outcome.
Ans: Factors that produced the Grand Alliance included widespread opposition to Indira Gandhi among non-Congress parties and a desire to present a united front. However:

• Indira Gandhi's populist campaign, particularly the 'Garibi Hatao' slogan and pro-poor measures, attracted mass support.
  
• The Congress (R) allied with the CPI and secured a large parliamentary majority, while the Grand Alliance failed to achieve its objective of unseating her.

Q5: What role did the term 'Syndicate' play in the political scenario of the 1960s and early 1970s?
Ans: The 'Syndicate' described a collective of senior Congress leaders who exercised control over nominations and party organisation. Their influence shaped internal party politics and created a power centre that eventually clashed with Indira Gandhi's independent leadership, contributing to factionalism and the party's split.

Q6: How did the 1967 elections pave the way for coalition politics in India?
Ans: The 1967 elections produced fractured mandates in several states and at the Centre. As no single party commanded comfortable majorities, regional and non-Congress parties joined together to form governments. This pattern institutionalised coalition politics, where alliances across parties became necessary to form stable governments.

Q7: Explain the significance of the slogan 'Garibi Hatao' in Indira Gandhi's political strategy.
Ans: 'Garibi Hatao' (Remove Poverty) was significant because it:

• Framed a clear, pro-poor electoral message that resonated with large sections of the electorate.
  
• Justified bold measures such as bank nationalisation and social welfare initiatives.
  
• Helped Indira Gandhi build an independent mass support base beyond the party's traditional elite.

Q8: How did the split within the Congress party in the late 1960s impact Indian politics?
Ans: The split reshaped Indian politics by:

• Weakening the Congress as a single, dominant organisation and creating competing factions.
  
• Encouraging the rise of regional and opposition parties that gained space in state politics.
  
• Accelerating the move towards coalition governments and more populist policy choices to secure voter support.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Discuss the challenges faced by Indira Gandhi from the Syndicate and how she overcame these challenges to establish her leadership.
Ans: The Syndicate consisted of senior Congress leaders who held organisational control and sought to direct party policy and candidate selection. The main challenges and Indira Gandhi's responses were:

• Challenge: The Syndicate attempted to limit her authority and influence decisions from behind the scenes.
  
• Response: Indira Gandhi cultivated direct links with the electorate through populist measures and slogans such as 'Garibi Hatao.'
  
• Challenge: The Syndicate backed rival candidates and tried to isolate her politically.
  
• Response: She took decisive steps - notably supporting W. Giri in the 1969 Presidential election and announcing measures like the nationalisation of banks and the abolition of the privy purse - which mobilised mass support and undermined the Syndicate's elite base.
  
• Outcome: These actions split the party into pro-Indira and anti-Indira camps, consolidated her leadership, and redefined the Congress around a more centralised and populist political style.

Q2: Analyze the impact of the 1967 elections on Indian politics, focusing on the rise of coalition politics and its consequences.
Ans: The 1967 elections were a turning point with several immediate and long-term consequences:

• Immediate impact: Congress lost its monopoly in many states; non-Congress parties and coalitions came to power in several regions.
  
• Rise of coalitions: The fractured verdict forced regional and smaller parties to combine into legislative alliances to form governments, institutionalising coalition politics.
  
• Consequences for governance: Coalition governments often required negotiation and compromise among partners, which sometimes led to weak or short-lived administrations and difficulties in implementing far-reaching policies.
  
• Political pluralism: The decline of single-party dominance allowed regional interests and new political forces to gain representation, enriching the federal character of Indian democracy.
  

Overall, 1967 marked the transition from single-party dominance to a more competitive, coalition-oriented political system.

Q3: Explain the role of the Grand Alliance in the 1971 elections and its significance in shaping the political landscape.
Ans: The Grand Alliance brought together major non-Congress parties to present a united front against Indira Gandhi in 1971. Its significance was:

• It reflected the determination of opposition parties to cooperate against a dominant national party.
  
• Despite its unity, it failed electorally because Indira Gandhi's pro-poor message and political manoeuvres retained popular support for her faction of Congress.
  
• The alliance's failure highlighted the limits of elite pacts without a convincing mass appeal, and it demonstrated that positive programmes and direct voter outreach could outweigh organisational unity alone. The result strengthened Indira Gandhi's position and influenced future opposition strategies.

Q4: Evaluate the impact of the split within the Congress party in the late 1960s on Indian politics.
Ans: The split had wide-ranging effects:

• It ended the era of unquestioned Congress dominance and created a competitive party system.
  
• It enabled the rise of new political formations and regional parties, increasing political pluralism.
  
• Policy implications: To secure electoral support, parties, including the Congress under Indira, adopted more populist and redistributive measures such as bank nationalisation.
  
• Institutional effects: The split contributed to political instability in some states, encouraged defections and realignments, and made coalition building a central feature of Indian politics.
  

In sum, the split reconfigured party politics, governance priorities and the nature of electoral competition in India.