question_answer

Explain any six factors which led to the popularity of Indira Gandhi government in the early 1970s.

Or

'The 1977 elections for the first time saw the opposition coming to power at the centre'. Examine any six reasons for this change.

 

Answer:

After the death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Smt. Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India in 1966. In the beginning. Smt. Indira Gandhi was not a very strong and popular Prime Minister but with the Government" in the early l970?s.

1. Charismatic personality: Smt. Indira Gandhi became popular due to her charismatic personality. Like Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi possessed an unparallel personality.

2. Socialistic policies of Indira Gandhi Government: Socialist policies of Indira Gandhi?s government made her very popular among the masses. Mrs. Indira Gandhi launched a series of initiatives to give the Government policy a left orientation.  Smt. Indira Gandhi pursued a vigorous policy in 1969 or ?land reform? and placed a ceiling on personal income, private property and corporate profits.

3. Garibi hatao: ?The fifth general elections to the Lok sabha were held in February 1971. indira Gandhi gave a very popular slogan ?Garibi Hatao? rhrough this slogan she got the support of backward classes, unemployed youth, minorities, women and schedule castes and scheduled tribes.

4. Strong hold of party: Smt. Indira Gandhi had a strong hold on her party.

5. Polarization of votes in 1971: The polarization of votes in ?1971?s fifth general election went in the favour of Indira Gandhi.

6. Weak opposition: Another reason to popularity of Indira Gandhi was that the opposition was weak.

Or

In the election of 1977, both to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies the: Congress Party lost its dominance. Not only did it lose dominance, it got a crushing defeat at the hands of the newly emerged Janata Party. The following factors were responsible for the defeat of the Congress or the victory of the Janata Party in the 1977 election:

1. Imposition of Internal emergency: For the first time in the history of free India, internal emergency was imposed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Immediately after the imposition of emergency, the leaders of all the opposition parties including J.P. Narayan were thrown behind the bars. The declaration of emergency was made so that Indira

Gandhi could retain the position of the Prime Minister.

2. Excess during emergency: Basic liberties of the people were suppressed. No individual or party could utter a word against the imposition of emergency or the excess committed by the government.

3. Sanjay Gandhi as the extra constitutional centre of power: During emergency, Sanjay Gandhi appeared as the extra constitutional centre of power. It was he who controlled the administration of India.

4. Imposition of black acts like MISA: During Emergency, various black Acts were passed by Indira Gandhi Government. The people that were suspected of doing anything against the government could be arrested and thrown behind the bars without any trial under the MISA.

5. Constitutional   amendments:   Indira government lowered the position of the judiciary through the 42nd amendment. In fact, judiciary was subordinated to the executive. The scope of judicial review was limited to a great extent.

6. Compulsory sterilisation: At the instance of Sanjay Gandhi various states particularly Haryana resorted to compulsory sterilization.