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Class 12 Political Science Chapter 2 Era of One Party Dominance
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Unit 2 Era of One Party Dominance
A. Very Short Types Question & Answers:
1. When was the Indian Constitution enforced?
Ans: The Indian Constitution was enforced on 26th January, 1950.
2. In which year Election Commission started using E.VM?
Ans: 1988.
3. When was the election commission formed in India?
Ans: In India, the election commission was formed in January 1950.
4. Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner?
Ans: Mr. Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner.
5. Why did the election commission cancel the first voter list?
Ans: The election commission canceled the first voter list because nearly 40 lakhs women were not recorded in the list.
6. Name the full form of E.V.M.
Ans: The full form of E.V.M is Electronic Voting Machine.
7. In which year was the first general election held?
Ans: The first general election was held in the year 1952.
8. How many terms did the congress get majority to form government?
Ans: The congress got majority to form government for three consecutive terms.
9. At the time of first general election in the year 1952, there were 14 national parties. (Say True or False)
Ans: False.
10. What percentage of the votes did the congress obtained in 1952 Lok Sabha Election?
Ans: In 1952 Lok Sabha Election congress obtained 45% of votes.
11. When was the congress socialist party formed?
Ans: The congress socialist party was formed in 1934.
12. Who was the founder of P.R.I.
Ans: Plutarco Elias Calles was the founder of P.R.I.
13. Mention two countries in which their constitution have permitted only a single party?
Ans: In countries like China and Cuba, their constitution have permitted only a single party.
14. Who was the chairman of the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly.
Ans: Dr. Bhim Rao Ramji Ambedkar was the chairman of the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly.
15. In which country did the Bolshevik Revolution take place?
Ans: Bolshevik Revolution took place in Russia.
16. When was Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed?
Ans: Bharatiya Jana Sangh was formed in 1951.
17. Who was the founder president of Bharitiya Jana Sangh?
Ans: The founder President of Bharitiya Jana Sangh was Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
18. When was Swatantra Party formed?
Ans: Swatantra Party was formed in August 1959.
19. What did the Swatantra party want from the government?
Ans: The Swatantra party wanted from the government to be less and less involvement in controlling the economy.
20. Under what conditions did the Indian Party System Originate?
Ans: Indian Party System originated during the freedom struggle.
21. When was the Congress party founded in India and by whom?
Ans: The Congress party was founded in 1885, it was founded by A. O. Hume.
22. Who led the Indian National Congress in the first general election?
Ans: Jawaharlal Nehru led the Indian National Congress in the first general election.
23. Mention one characteristic of the Party System in India?
Ans: Indian Party System is characterized by absence of strong opposition party.
24. When was the Indian Constitution enforced?
Ans: Indian Constitution was enforced on 26th January, 1950.
25. In 1957 which party formed the Government in Kerala?
Ans: The Communist Party formed government in Kerala.
26. In which year Socialist Party was formed?
Ans: In 1934 Socialist Party was formed.
27. In which party lies the roots of Bharatiya Janata Party?
Ans: The roots of Bharatiya Janata Party lied in Bharatiya Jana Sangha.
28. In which year the Era of one party dominance began?
Ans: In 1952 the era of one party dominance began.
29. Which Indian Party is the oldest party in Asia?
Ans: Indian National party is the oldest party in Asia.
30. Who was Deen Dayal Upadhaya?
Ans: Deen Dayal Upadhaya was the founder member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangha.
31. Who was the founder of Independent Labour Party in India?
Ans: B.R. Ambedkar was the founder of Independent Labour Party in India.
32. When did the Constitution of India come into effect?
Ans: 26th January 1950.
33. Who were the main leaders of the C.P.I?
Ans: A. K. Gopalan, S.A. Dange, P.C. Joshi and Ajoy Ghosh.
34. Under what conditions did the Indian party system originate?
Ans: Indian Party System was originated in the Conditions of national movement.
35. Write name of the party that won the second largest number of Lok Sabha seats in the First General Election of India.
Ans: The Communist Party of India.
36. Who was the founder of Congress Socialist Party?
Ans: Acharya Narendra Dev was the founder of Congress Socialist Party.
37. Write a note on Kerala election of 1957.
Ans: E.M.S. Namboodiripad leader of the Communist Party formed the government in Kerala after the election. As for the first time in the world, a Communist party government had come to power through democratic elections.
38. What did the successful general elections of India in 1952 prove?
Ans: It proved that democracy could be practiced anywhere in the world in the conditions of poverty or lack of education.
39. When was the Socialist Party formed and why did it separate from Congress as a new party?
Ans: The Congress Socialist Party was formed in 1934 within the Congress. In 1948 the amendment in Congress Constitution to prevent dual party membership forced the socÃalists to form a separate Socialist Party.
40. What made the first general election in India unusual?
Ans: It was unusual due to continental size of the country and electorate and it was also the first big test of democracy in poor and illiterate country.
41. In which state the Indian National Congress was defeated in March 1957 Assembly elections?
Ans: Kerala.
42. When was the first general elections held in India?
Ans: It was held from October 1951 to February 1952.
43. Why the first general elections in India were considered a landmark in terms of participating?
Ans: The first general elections in India were a landmark because more than half of the eligible voters participated.
44. What were the causes for the Congress dominance in the first three general elections?
Ans: The causes are:
(i) It had inherited the legacy of the national movement.
(ii) It was the only party then to have an organisation spread all over the country.
45. How many seats of the Lok Sabha did Congress win in the first general elections in 1952?
Ans: Congress won 364 seats out of 489 Lok Sabha seats.
46. On which date was the draft of the Indian Constitution signed and when it came into force?
Ans: The draft of the Indian Constitution was signed on 26th November 1949 and it came into force on 26th January 1950.
47. Why did socialists criticise the congress?
Ans: The socialists criticized the congress for favouring capitalists and land lords and for ignoring the workers and peasants.
48. When was the C.P.I. party formed? Name one personality who led this party?
Ans: The C.P.I. party was formed in the early 1920’s, taking inspiration from the Bol Shevik Revolution in Russia.
One famous personality who led this party was A.K. Gopalan.
49. When was the Election commission of India formed? Who was the first election commissioner?
Ans: The election commission was formed in January 1950.
Sukumar Sen was the first election commissioner.
50. Which period of election had been describe as the congress system?
Ans: The period 1952-1962 of election had been describe as the congress system.
51. When was the Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed and who wat the founder President of the Party?
Ans: Bharatiya Jana Sangha was formed in 1951. Deen Dayal Upadhaya was the founder president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangha.
52. When was Congress Party founded in India and by whom?
Ans: Congress Party was founded in 1885 and A. O. Hume was the founder of the party.
53. Mention any two ideologies of Bharatia Jana Sangh.
Ans: Two ideologies of Bharatiya Jana Sangha:
(i) One Country and one nation.
(ii) Integrated and Moder India.
54. When was Swatantra Party formed? What is the main aim of Swatantra Party?
Ans: Swatantra Party was formed in August 1959. The party called for land ceilings, take over of food grain trade by the state and adoption of co-operative farming.
B. Short Type Questions & Answers:
1. Why did the leaders of many other countries decide that India could not afford to have democracy?
Ans: The leaders of many other countries decided that India could not afford to have democracy because it got independence in some difficult circumstances. They said that national unity was first priority and that democracy will introduce differences and conflicts.
2. Give suggestions to curb communalism in India.
Ans: People should cultivate fraternal feelings towards all citizens, irrespective of religion. Religious faith and practice should be confined to one’s private life. A proactive press and media can help in exposing the evil designs of communal forces in our country.
3. Write any four reasons for the emergence of the coalition era in the Indian Democratic system.
Ans: The factors for the emergence of coalition government in India:
(a) End of Congress dominance.
(b) Rising regional political aspiration.
(c) Presence of Communal political party.
(d) Increasing strength of the dalits and other backward class political parties.
4. Write any four features of Indian party system.
Ans: Four characteristics of Indian Party system:
(a) Multi-Party System.
(b) Emergence of regional political party.
(c) One party dominance.
(d) Lack of strong opposition political party.
5. Write any four (4) reasons for domination of one party system in India.
Ans: Four reasons for domination of one party system in India:
(i) Indian National Congress as the first and oldest political party enjoys supremacy over other parties.
(ii) Indian National Congress party is the largest party having wide organised party network all over India.
(iii) Indian National Congress led the freedom struggle and won independence for India.
(iv) There is lack of well organised strong opposition political party in India.
6. Mention the names of four political parties which were established before independence.
Ans: The four political parties which was established before independence are:
(i) Indian National Congress.
(ii) Communist Party.
(iii) Muslim League
(iv) Socialist Party.
7. What kind of step did the election commission of India take for holding election?
Ans: The election commission of India take some important steps for holding election in India.
These steps are like:
(i) Election commission wanted to conduct a free and fair election in the country, but which need delimitation or drawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies.
(ii) It also prepared the electoral rolls, or the list of all the citizens eligible to vote.
(iii) When the first draft was published it was discovered that the names of 40 lakhs women were not recorded in the list. The election commission refused to accept these entries and ordered a revision if possible or selection if necessary.
(iv) The election commission emphasised on some special method of voting. For this reason they trained over 3 lakh officers and polling staff to conduct the election.
8. Why did an Indian Editor call the election as the biggest gamble in history?
Ans: An Indian editor call the election as the biggest gamble in history because the first general election held in India was the first big test of democracy in a poor and illiterate country. Till then democracy has existed only in the prosperous countries, mainly in Europe and North America, where nearly everyone was literate. By that time many countries in Europe had not given voting rights to all women. In this context India’s experiment with universal adult franchise appeared very bold and risky.
9. Describe the origin and split of Communist Party of India.
Ans: The Communist Party of India was formed in the early 1920. The Communist Party of India was formed taking inspiration from the Bolshevik revolution in Soviet Russia, Communist Party of India was formed in 1924. The aim of the party was to free India from British Colonial ruler. However, in 1964, the communist party was divided into two separate parties. They are communist party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India. Again in 1969, another communist party was emerged, namely communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist).
10. When was the Congress Party founded in India and by whom.
Ans: A.O. Hume founded the Congress Party in 1885.
Historical background: The Congress has passed through different phases from being a platform of loyalist reformers, as a forum of enlightened professionals for the articulation of demands and for negotiating greater participation of the Indians in the legislatures and local bodies. Under Gandhi, it became a multi-class mass movement. After independence, the Congress became a dominant ruling party.
11. Explain the policies and programmes of the Left Parties.
Ans: Left parties believes in Communist ideology and principle. Left parties give importance to protect the rights of labour and farmers. Left parties opposes inequality and exploitation of the rich over the poor. Left parties favours equal distribution of resources.
12. Who was B. R. Ambedkar? For whom did he fight?
Ans: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was the leader of anti-caste movement and the founder father of Independent labour party. He was the chairman of drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly. He became the minister in Jawaharlal Nehru’s first cabinet after independence.
For his whole life Dr. Ambedkar fought for the Dalits, the labours and the people belonging to the scheduled castes.
13. Explain the view of the communist groups on the India’s freedom struggle.
Ans: The view of the communist groups on the India’s freedom struggle was not very positive. The basic question troubled the party was the nature of Indian Independence. They thought that the transfer of power in 1947 was not true independence and encouraged violent uprisings, in Telangana. The communist failed to generate popular support for their position and were crushed by the armed forces. This forced them to rethink their position. In 1951 the communist party abandoned the path of violent revolution and decided to participate in the approaching general elections.
14. Explain briefly why we call the congress party as the centre of Indian politics.
Ans: Congress was the only grass root organisation which existed at the time of existence. Its federal structure had the bases of internal democracy It inherited a vast and enriched legacy from the national struggle. It gave its goodwill and from that it could draw political mileage. The congress was able to dominate because it was able to adjust the local circumstances.
The internal democracy in the party and electoral gains of congress helped congress to adjust to changes in local balance of power. Congress had emerged as a pressure group of the intellectuals, professionals and communal classes in the twentieth century. The party possessed a very broad based manifesto which comprised something or the other for every section of society. For all these reason we call the congress party as the centre of Indian politics.
15. How do you describe the nature of the party system of India.
Ans: The three vital factors that determine the pattern of Indian party system are:
(i) A major heritage of the national movement was the building of national consensus on certain essential issues of the three significant dimensions of national interest, namely national unity and political integrations, national defence and security.
(ii)The other heritage of the national movement was its broad ideological base, coalescing the many standards from the radical left to the conservative, traditional right. The co-existence of the left, centre and the right in the national movement during the freedom struggle and only gave it a wider support base and provided it with all India legitimacy, but also laid down a tradition of toleration and accommodation of different point of view.
(iii) The continental size of the country comprising well defined and distinct socio-cultural region, with their own languages and dialects, specific patterns of caste, community and tribal formations, provided the objective conditions for the rise of regional parties and groups.
16. Discuss briefly the causes of decline of the Congress Party.
Ans: At midnight on June 26, 1975, an emergency was proclaimed in the country by her government, thereby suspending all democratic rights of the people and concentrating all the power in the hands of Indira Gandhi. This was done to subvert the decision given against Indira Gandhi by the Allahabad High Court Bench in the case of fraudulent electoral practices in the 1971 elections. The emergency was the darkest period in India’s independent history. The government had become authoritarian; the opposition was decimated as most political opponents were put behind bars; the press was under extreme censorship.
The 21-month emergency proved to be costly for Congress. In the 1977 elections, for the first time, a non-Congress government was formed at the center. Thus, this was the reasons for the decline of Congress Party.
C. Long Type Questions & Answers:
1. Discuss briefly about defection in the Party System of India.
Ans: Defection politics in India started after Fourth General Elections held in 1967 and thereafter it continued to draw serious attention of the people. Prior to this there were also political defections when persons like Dr. Raghu Vira, Ashok Mehta and T. Prakasham left their parties. But at that time problem was not really serious because such instances were few and far between.
The cases being very few caused only ripples but not storms. It was however, after 1967 that in many states Congress party did not come to power and thus had no clear cut majority. The opposition parties had ample opportunities to form their governments and thus both the sides started persuading elected legislators to join their side.
Allegations were made that the legislators changed very frequently their allegiance and in Haryana, it is said that a legislator changed his allegiance thrice in a day. Between March and December, 1967 out of total membership of about 3,450 state legislators about 320 changed their loyalties.
2. Discuss the National Revolutionary party.
Ans: National Revolutionary Party founded in 1929 exercised power in Mexico for almost six decades. Later it is renamed as the Institutional Revolutionary Party, the P.R.I (in Spanish). It represented the legacy of the Mexican Revolution, originally P.R.I. was a mixture of various interests including political and military leaders, labour and peasant organisations and numerous political parties.
Over a period of time, Plutarco Elias Calles. the founder of P.R.I., was able to capture the organisation and thereby the government. Elections were held at regular intervals and it was the P.R.I which won every time, other parties existed only for name sake. Electoral laws were operated in such a manner that only P.R.I. won the elections. Elections were often rigged and manipulated by the ruling party. Its rule was described as “the perfect dictatorship” and finally the party lost in the presidential elections held in 2000. Mexico is no longer a one party dominated country. But the tactics adopted by the P.R.I during the period of its dominance had a long term effect on the health of democracy. The citizens have yet to develop full confidence in the free and fair nature of elections.
3. Explain briefly the history of elections held in 1952.
Ans: The first General Election is held in 1952 which is regarded as a landmark in India.
The history behind it is like:
(1) The election was held in a very competitive situation-there were on an average more than four candidates for each seat.
(ii) The level of participation was encouraging more than half the eligible voters turned out to vote.
(iii) When the results were declared these were accepted as unfair even by the losers.
(iv) In the first general election more than half of Indian population was illiterate, still the election took place smoothly.
(v) The Indian experiment proved the critics wrong who thought that Indian democratic experiment would prove to be a failure.
(vi) Moreover a free and fair election was conducted and woman got a chance to vote too.
It became a milestone in the history of democracy all over the world. It was no longer possible to argue that democratic election could not be held in conditions of poverty or lack of education. It proved that democracy could be practiced any where in the world.
4. Explain the Congress dominance in the first three general election.
Ans: The Indian National Congress had unique political accomplishments. The Congress dominated the Indian political scenario from 1947-1967.
The factors responsible for its dominance are:
(i) Legacy of National Struggle: The Congress Party had inherited a vast and enriched legacy from the nationalist struggle. It gave its goodwill political mileage. Party leaders like Nehru and Shastri were quite popular for spending years in jail and others deprivations they endured. The legacy of nationalist movement helped in forging coherence and unity in the wake of party’s internal pluralism.
(ii) Grassroot Organisation: Congress was the only grassroot organisation which existed at the time of existence. Its federal structure had the basis of internal democracy. This helped it to resolve internal feuds and cement party cohesion. Internal party elections served as means of legitimising party leadership and training party workers in the skill of political competition. It helped in rewarding the movable members.
(iii) Adjustment to local circumstances: The Congress was able to dominate because it was able to local circumstances. The erstwhile landed aristocracy completed for power within the Congress. The internal democracy in the party and electoral gains of Congress helped Congress to adjust to changes in local balance of power. Further the broad base allowed Congress even to incorporate successful opposition leaders along with its fold. It served as a channel to inform about local conditions to party hierarchy.
(iv) Attract New Supporters: With the expansion of development role of the state, resources which could be disbursed to party members also increased. The growing pool of resources and opportunities enhanced the ability of Congress to adjust conflicts among its members. The party reaped benefits of a virtuous cycle in which the electoral gains provided it access to politico-economic resources to garner new supporters.”
(v) Limited role of opposition: From 1947 to 1967 we see a very limited role played by the opposition political parties. There were a number of reasons why the opposition was not able to unite against the Congress. Some of the main reasons were the internal differences within the socialist fold, reservations of the CPI, presence of dynamic leaders like Nehru in the Congress, the inability of the opposition to unite and to provide a collective leadership in the absence of one widely accepted leader in their midst, lack of clarity of thought and approach among them and also their appeal being limited and confined to certain pockets.
(vi) Management: The Congress possessed strong managerial skills. It could easily tackle the differences that cropped up within the various factions of the Congress Party. The rivalries and differences were dealt with great technique and patience. This allowed the Congress to remain is a grand centrist party which facilitated the party to win elections term after term.
5. When was the Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed? Discuss its ideology.
Ans: Bharatiya Jana Sangh was formed in 1951 with Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee as its founder president.
Its main ideology are:
(i) The Jana Sangh party emphasised the one of one country, one culture and one nation.
(ii) It believed that the country could become modern, progressive and strong on the basis of Indian culture and traditions.
(iii) The party called for a reunion of India and Pakistan in Akhand bharat.
(iv) The party was in forefront of the agitation to replace English with Hindi as the official language of India and was also opposed to the granting of concessions to religious and cultural minorities.
(v) The party was a consistent advocate of India developing nuclear weapons especially after China carried out its atomic tests in 1964.
In the 1950s Jana Sangh remained an the margins of the electoral politics and was able to secure only 3 Lok Sabha seats in 1952 election and 4 seats in 1957 general election in Lok Sabha. The support base centred around the urban areas of Hindi speaking states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The party’s initial leaders included Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Balraj Madhok. The Bharatiya Janata Party traces its roots to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
6. Explain briefly the Swatantra party.
Ans: The Swatantrata Party formed in August 1959 the Nagpur resolution of the Congress which called for land ailings, take-over of food grain trade by the state and adoption of cooperative farming. The party was led by old Congressmen like C. Rajagopalchari, K.M. Munshi, N.G. Ranga and Minoo Masani. The party stood out from the others in terms of its position on economic issues.
The Swatantra Party was against land ceilings in agriculture and opposed cooperative farming and state trading. It was also opposed to the progressive tax regime and demanded dismantling of the licensing regime. It was critical of the policy of non-alignment and maintaining friendly relation with the Soviet Union and advocated closer ties with the United States.
The Swatantrata Party wanted the government to be less and less involved in controlling the economy. It believed that prosperity could come only through individual freedom. It was critical of the development strategy of state intervention in the economy, centralised planning, nationalisation and the public sector. It instead favoured expansion of a free private sector. The Swatantrata Party gained strength in different parts of the country by way of merger with numerous regional parties and interests. It attracted the landlord and Princes who wanted to protect their land and status that was being threatened by business class who were against nationalisation and the licensing policies also supported the party. Its narrow social base and the lack of a dedicated care of party members did not allow it to build a strong organisational network.
7. Give the comparative analysis of the nature of Congress dominance.
Ans: The Indian National Congress had unique political accomplishments. The Congress dominated the Indian political scenario from 1947-1967.
The factors responsible for its dominance are:
(i) Legacy of National Struggle: The Congress Party had inherited a vast and enriched legacy from the nationalist struggle. It gave its goodwill political mileage. Party leaders like Nehru and Shastri were quite popular for spending years in jail and others deprivations they endured. The legacy of nationalist movement helped in forging coherence and unity in the wake of party’s internal pluralism.
(ii) Grassroot Organisation: Congress was the only grassroot organisation which existed at the time of existence. Its federal structure had the basis of internal democracy. This helped it to resolve internal feuds and cement party cohesion. Internal party elections served as means of legitimising party leadership and training party workers in the skill of political competition. It helped in rewarding the movable members.
(iii) Adjustment to local circumstances: The Congress was able to dominate because it was able to local circumstances. The erstwhile landed aristocracy completed for power within the Congress. The internal democracy in the party and electoral gains of Congress helped Congress to adjust to changes in local balance of power. Further the broad base allowed Congress even to incorporate successful opposition leaders along with its fold. It served as a channel to inform about local conditions to party hierarchy.
(iv) Attract New Supporters: With the expansion of development role of the state, resources which could be disbursed to party members also increased. The growing pool of resources and opportunities enhanced the ability of Congress to adjust conflicts among its members. The party reaped benefits of a virtuous cycle in which the electoral gains provided it access to politico-economic resources to garner new supporters.
(v) Limited role of opposition: From 1947 to 1967 we see a very limited role played by the opposition political parties. There were a number of reasons why the opposition was not able to unite against the Congress. Some of the main reasons were the internal differences within the socialist fold, reservations of the CPI, presence of dynamic leaders like Nehru in the Congress, the inability of the opposition to unite and to provide a collective leadership in the absence of one widely accepted leader in their midst, lack of clarity of thought and approach among them and also their appeal being limited and confined to certain pockets.
(vi) Management: The Congress possessed strong managerial skills. It could easily tackle the differences that cropped up within the various factions of the Congress Party. The rivalries and differences were dealt with great technique and patience. This allowed the Congress to remain as a grand centrist party which facilitated the party to win elections term after term.
8. Find out the ideological difference between Bharatia Jana Sangh and the Communist Party of India?
Ans: Differences between Socialist parties and Communist party:
(a) The Socialists believed in the ideology of democratic socialism whereas Communist party worked mainly within the fold of the Congress party.
(b) The Socialists believed in peaceful constitutional methods, while Communist party believed in peaceful and violent methods.
(c) The Socialists Criticised the congress for favouring capitalists and landlords and ignoring the working class and farmers. The Communist party believed in the welfare of workers and peasants.
Differences between Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party:
(a) Bharatiya Jana Sangh believed in the ideology of ‘one country, one nation, one culture and one national ideal; on the other hand, the Swatantra Party believed in equality of opportunity for all people without distinction of religion, caste, race etc,
(b) Bharatiya Jana Sangh a stands for the nationalism of basic and defence industries, but it does not favour the policy of taking more and more industries under state ownership and control, because it believes that this tendency is harmful both for democracy and economic development. Swatantra Party stands for the principle of maximum freedom for the individual and minimum interference by the state.
(c) Jana Sangh favours to follow the policy of non-alignment with the two power blocs as also of non-involvement in international affairs not directly affecting India. Swatantra Party was critical of the policy of non-alignment and advocated close ties with U.S.A.
9. Discuss briefly the causes of the dominance of Congress Party in the politics of India after independence.
Ans: The Indian National Congress is the oldest and historically the most important force in Indian polity. Having seen as synonymous with the national movement, the Party has been an integral part of the country in the pre-and post-independence era.
(i) The rise of coalition politics in 1989 had put an end to the Congress System, altering the party system in the country. But it is difficult to imagine Indian politics without the Congress, which still continues to remain an important political force.
(ii) After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the party did witness a political vacuum, but it formed the government at the Centre with P.V. Narsihma Rao as the prime minister.
(iii) The Congress also supported the United Front government in 1997-98.
(iv) The arrival of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi changed the face of the Congress and filled the loss that the party incurred after Rajiv Gandhi’s death. The party led the UPA coalition government at the Centre in 2004 and thereafter again in 2009 when the party won 206 seats.
(v) The Congress also formed governments at the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, etc.
(vi) The part, however, received a huge blow in the 2014 general elections and was decimated. The party did not win a single seat in seven states. The party, however, won 44 LS seats. It proved to be the worst ever performance by the Congress.
10. What did Congress did on losing power in Kerala in 1957 and what was its implication?
Ans: After losing power in Kerala in the 1957 elections, the Indian National Congress (INC) adopted an aggressive stance known as the “Kerala Liberation Struggle” to overthrow the democratically elected Communist Party-led government.
The Congress initiated a series of agitations and protests to destabilize the state government and regain power Implications:
(a) Political Instability: The Congress-led agitation created a sense of political instability in Kerala. The state witnessed frequent protests,strikes, and clashes between supporters of the Communist government and the Congress opposition. This led to disruptions in governance and hindered the development of the state.
(b) Polarization and Divisions: The Congress’s efforts to overthrow the democratically elected government polarized society along political lines. The political tensions gave rise to deep divisions among the people, leading to social unrest and a strained political atmosphere in Kerala.
(c) Consolidation of the Communist Party: The Congress’s aggressive opposition inadvertently strengthened the Communist Party’s position in Kerala. The Communist Party, led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad, used the Congress’s actions as a rallying point to consolidate its support base. The party capitalized on the situation to highlight the Congress’s undemocratic attempts and present itself as the defender of people’s mandate.
(d) Shift in Political Dynamics: The events following the Congress’s loss of power in Kerala marked a significant shift in the political dynamics of the state. The Communist Party’s successful defense against the Congress’s agitation helped establish its credibility and influence in Kerala politics. It further strengthened the Left movement in the state, which has had a significant impact on Kerala’s political landscape since then.
11. What do you mean by ‘one-party dominance’ in the Indian context?
Ans: In the Indian context, ‘one-party dominance’ refers to a political situation where a single political party enjoys a significant and prolonged period of electoral success, often winning a majority of seats or forming a government in multiple elections consecutively. This dominance is characterized by the party’s ability to consistently secure a majority or a substantial share of seats in the legislature, giving it a significant advantage in governance and decision-making.
Key features of one-party dominance include:
(a) Electoral Success: The dominant party consistently wins a majority of seats or a significant share of seats in multiple elections over a sustained period. It demonstrates a strong and enduring appeal to voters, leading to its continued electoral success.
(b) Longevity in Power: The dominant party remains in power for an extended period, often leading consecutive governments or forming coalitions with other parties. It exercises a considerable influence over policy formulation, governance, and decision-making.
(c) Organizational Strength: The dominant party possesses a well. established and robust organizational structure, which helps it mobilize resources, maintain a strong party machinery, and effectively reach out to voters. It often has a broad membership base and a strong presence at various levels of governance.
(d) Ideological Influence: The dominant party’s ideology or agenda shapes the political discourse and policy framework in the country. Its influence extends beyond electoral victories and impacts societal values, governance practices, and policy priorities.
12. Write a short note on the origin and aims of the Socialist Party.
Ans: The Socialist Party in India traces its origins back to the pre- independence era when it was founded as the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) within the Indian National Congress in 1934. The CSP’ emerged as a left-wing faction within the Congress, advocating for a more radical and socialist agenda.
The aims of the Socialist Party are rooted in socialist principles and the vision of a more equitable and just society. The party aims to promote social, economic, and political equality, and advocate for the rights and welfare of marginalized sections of society. It seeks to address issues such as poverty, unemployment, inequality, and social injustice through progressive policies and social transformation.
The Socialist Party envisions a society based on democratic socialism, where there is equal distribution of resources, social ownership of key industries, and the welfare of all citizens is ensured. It strives for a society free from exploitation, caste discrimination, communalism, and other forms of social oppression.
The party has historically emphasized the importance of grassroots mobilization and has actively participated in various social and political movements in India. It has advocated for workers’ rights, farmers’ rights, women’s rights, and the rights of marginalized communities. The Socialist Party has also been committed to promoting secularism, communal harmony, and the protection of civil liberties.
While the Socialist Party has faced challenges and ideological differences over the years, it continues to be a voice for socialist ideals and progressive politics in India. It seeks to create a more inclusive and egalitarian society through political engagement, policy advocacy, and grassroots activism.
13. What is meant by coalition government? When was the coalition government formed for the first time at the centre?
Ans: A coalition government is a form of government in which multiple political parties come together to form a governing alliance or coalition. It occurs when no single party gains an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or when political parties choose to collaborate to gain a working majority.
In a coalition government, participating parties agree to share power and work together to form a government. They typically negotiate and agree upon a common agenda or policy framework to guide their governance. Ministers and key positions in the government may be allocated to different parties based on their respective strengths and interests.
The first coalition government at the center in India was formed in 1977 after the general elections held in the same year. This coalition, known as the Janata Party coalition, emerged as an alliance of various opposition parties, primarily brought together to challenge the ruling Indian National Congress party. The Janata Party coalition included parties such as the Bharatiya Lok Dal, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the Socialist Party, and others. Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister, leading the first non- Congress government at the center since independence. The Janata Party coalition government lasted until 1980 when internal differences led to its collapse.
Since then, coalition governments have been formed at various times in India, especially when no single party secures a majority in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament). Coalition governments play a significant role in Indian politics and have been instrumental in shaping policy decisions and governance in the country.
14. Examine the main factors responsible for the Congress Party’s dominance in India.
Ans: The Indian National Congress (INC), also known as the Congress Party, has enjoyed a dominant position in Indian politics for several decades.
Several factors have contributed to its sustained dominance:
(a) Role in Independence Movement: The INC played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. It mobilized the masses, led protests, and negotiated with the British government for self-rule. The party’s association with the freedom struggle and its leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, garnered immense popularity and trust among the Indian population.
(b) Broad-based Support: The Congress Party has traditionally maintained a broad-based support base. It has successfully appealed to diverse sections of society, including farmers, workers, urban middle class, and marginalized communities. Its inclusive ideology and focus on social justice and welfare programs have resonated with a large segment of the population.
(c) Grassroots Organization: The Congress Party has built a strong and extensive grassroots organizational structure across the country. Its robust party machinery, from national to local levels, enables effective mobilization of resources, election campaigning, and connecting with voters at the grassroots level. This organizational strength has contributed to its electoral successes.
(d) Leadership and Legacy: The Congress Party has been blessed with charismatic leaders who have played significant roles in shaping the country. Figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi have left a lasting impact on Indian politics. The Nehru-Gandhi family’s association with the party has created a sense of continuity, loyalty, and emotional attachment among many party supporters.
(e) Electoral Alliances: The Congress Party has successfully formed alliances and accommodated regional parties when necessary. By forging strategic partnerships with regional parties, especially during coalition politics, the Congress has expanded its reach and maintained a national presence.
(f) Populist Policies and Welfare Programs: The Congress Party has implemented several populist policies and welfare programs aimed at addressing poverty, inequality, and social issues. Initiatives like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), loan waivers for farmers, and subsidized food programs have garnered support and loyalty from sections of the population.
It is important to note that the Congress Party’s dominance has witnessed fluctuations over time due to various factors such as changing political dynamics, internal party challenges, and the emergence of regional parties. However, these factors have played a significant role in its historical dominance in Indian politics.
15. How has the method of voting changed from the first general elections of 1952 to the general elections of 2004?
Ans: The method of voting in India has undergone significant changes from the first general elections in 1952 to the general elections in 2004.
Here are some key changes that have occurred:
(a) Paper Ballot to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs): In the early years, paper ballots were used for voting. Voters marked their choice by stamping the ballot paper and placing it in a ballot box. However, with technological advancements, the Election Commission of India introduced Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the 1990s. EVMs replaced the traditional paper ballot system and offered a more efficient and secure method of voting.
(b) Introduction of Voter ID Cards: The introduction of voter identity cards was a significant change in the voting process. Voter ID cards were implemented to ensure that only eligible voters could participate in elections. These cards serve as proof of identity and are required to be presented at the polling station during voting.
(c) Use of Indelible Ink: Indelible ink is applied to the finger of the voter after casting the vote to prevent multiple voting. This measure was introduced to maintain the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.
(d) Introduction of Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC): The Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) was introduced as an identification document specifically for voting purposes. It includes the voter’s photograph and other details and serves as an additional proof of identity.
(e) Voter Registration Process: Over the years, the voter registration process has become more streamlined and accessible. Various initiatives have been taken to increase voter enrollment, such as door-to-door voter registration drives, online registration facilities, and the establishment of voter registration centers.
Inclusion of Braille Ballot Sheets and Special Facilities: In order to ensure inclusivity and accessibility, Braille ballot sheets and special facilities have been introduced for voters with visual impairments or disabilities. These measures aim to enable all eligible citizens to exercise their voting rights.
These changes in the method of voting have been implemented to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity of the electoral process in India. The Election Commission of India has been at the forefront of introducing these reforms to ensure free and fair elections and encourage greater participation of the electorate.
16. Write a brief note on Communist Party of India.
Ans: The Communist Party of India (CPI) is one of the major political parties in India. It was founded on December 26, 1925, in Kanpur, with the aim of establishing a socialist society through a revolutionary transformation of Indian society and politics. The party follows a Marxist- Leninist ideology and is affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)).
The CPI has played a significant role in India’s political landscape and has been actively involved in various social and political movements. It has championed the cause of workers, peasants, and marginalized sections of society. The party has consistently advocated for land reforms, workers’ rights, gender equality, and social justice.
During India’s struggle for independence, the CPI played a prominent role in mobilizing workers and peasants against British colonial rule. It was involved in organizing strikes, agitations, and peasant movements to address socio-economic inequalities and exploitation.
After independence, the CPI participated in parliamentary politics and contested elections at the national and state levels. It has had a presence in various state governments, either independently or as part of coalition governments. The party has also been active in trade unions and has played a crucial role in labor movements across the country.
The CPI has faced internal divisions and ideological differences over the years, leading to splits and the formation of separate communist parties. However, it continues to be a significant political force, particularly in states like Kerala and West Bengal, where it has had a strong presence and influence.
The CPI has also been involved in social and cultural activities, promoting progressive ideas and fostering cultural movements. It publishes several newspapers and journals, spreading its ideology and engaging in political discourse.
While the party’s influence and electoral success have varied over time, the Communist Party of India remains an important player in Indian politics, advocating for social justice, egalitarianism, and the rights of the working class and marginalized sections of society.
17. Describe Congress’s policy of tolerance and management of factions.
Ans: The Indian National Congress (INC), commonly known as the Congress Party, has historically adopted a policy of tolerance and management of factions within the party. This approach has been an integral part of the party’s functioning and has helped maintain its unity and accommodate diverse interests.
Here are some key aspects of Congress’s policy of tolerance and faction management:
(a) Big Tent Approach: The Congress Party has followed a “big tent” approach, aiming to accommodate a broad spectrum of ideologies and interests within its fold. It has been home to various ideological factions, ranging from socialist and liberal to centrist and conservative. This approach has allowed the party to appeal to a wide range of voters and maintain a diverse support base.
(b) Inclusive Decision-Making: The Congress Party has emphasized inclusive decision-making processes. It has encouraged internal discussions, debates, and consultations within the party. Key decisions are often taken through consensus-building and collective decision-making mechanisms, accommodating the views and concerns of different factions.
(c) Balancing Act: The Congress leadership has often engaged in a delicate balancing act to manage competing factions and interests. It strives to strike a balance between various groups and leaders within the party to maintain internal cohesion and prevent major rifts. Efforts are made to accommodate different factions by assigning roles, responsibilities, and positions within the party and the government.
(d) Coalition Politics: In a country with diverse regional and cultural identities, coalition politics has become a significant feature. The Congress Party has frequently engaged in alliance-building with regional parties to form coalition governments at the central and state levels. This strategy of coalition politics allows the party to accommodate regional aspirations and interests, and effectively manage factional dynamics.
(e) Leadership Influence: Strong leadership has played a crucial role in managing factions within the Congress Party. Influential leaders have acted as mediators and arbitrators, working to resolve internal conflicts and prevent factionalism from undermining party unity. The leadership has often played a key role in providing a common vision and rallying point for various factions.
While the Congress Party has generally been successful in managing factions and maintaining party unity, it has also faced challenges and internal divisions at various points in its history. Factionalism, regional power struggles, and ideological differences have occasionally strained party unity. However, the party’s policy of tolerance and faction management has helped it navigate these challenges and remain a significant political force in Indian politics.
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