Page 1 - LN- PARTIES AND PARTY SYSTEM IN INDIA

LESSON NOTES

PARTIES AND PARTY SYSTEM IN INDIA

1. Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru passed away in May 1964. The 1960s were

labeled as 'dangerous decade' due to some unresolved problems like poverty,

inequality, communal and regional divisions etc.

2. India mainly faced two challenges from 1964 to 1966 during Lal Bahadur

Shastri's reign like 'Economic Crisis' due to Indo-China War of 1962 and Indo-Pak

War of 1965 and failed Monsoons, droughts and food crisis which was symbolised

as a famous slogan to resolve the issues like 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'.

3. The Congress Party faced the challenge of political succession for theLal

Bahadur Shastri was a non-controversial leader from Uttar Pradash.Second time

after the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri with an intense competition between Morarji

Desai and Indira Gandhi to resolved through a secret ballot among Congress MPs.

Indira Gandhi defeated Morarji Desai and a peaceful transition of power was seen

as a 'Sign of Maturity of India's Democracy'.

4. The government of Indira Gandhi decided to devalue the Indian rupee in order to

check economic crisis of 1967. Consequently, one US dollar could be purchased

for less than Rs. 5 after devaluation which cost more than Rs. 7. The economic

situation triggered off price rise.

5. The Congress Party's decision of devaluation gave birth to the concept of Non-

Congressism with different programmes and ideologies to form anti-Congress

fronts. It was claimed to be necessary for democratic purposes.

6. The fourth general election was held in 1967, not be in favour of Congress. The

political leaders like Kamraj in Tamilnadu, S.K. Patil in Maharashtra, Atulya

Ghosh in West Bengal