Question

Mention one area of conflict between the central and state government

Answer 1

The answer is : In some of the states in 1967 Samyukta Vidhyak Dal and United Front Governments came to power, while in others Communist parties came to power. At the centre, Congress party, however, remained in power. Thus Centre state relations got somewhat strained.

In 1971, situation, however, again changed when Congress party again swept the polls and was saddled in authority both at the centre as well as in the states, resulting in harmonising of relationship between the centre and the states.

In 1977, when general elections for the Lok Sabha were held in the country, Janata party came to power at the centre, but at that time many states were being ruled by the Congress party. Relationship between the centre and the states again posed a problem.

But the Janata government at the centre decided to dissolve nine Congress ruled state assemblies, on the plea that electoral verdict had shown that the governments in these states had lost contacts with the people.

When elections in these states were held, the Janata party came to power and thus there was no straining of relationship between the centre and the states. In 1980, general elections for the Lok Sabha were again held in the country. Janata party was defeated at the polls and Congress (I) party came to power at the centre.

This again was likely to strain relationship between the centre and the states because in many states Janata party was then in power. In order to avoid problems and taking several other factors into consideration Congress government at the centre, dissolved nine Janata and other opposition ruled state Assemblies.

Since Congress (I) which was in power at the centre, swept polls in 8 out of the 9 states in which elections were held, therefore, straining of relations again could be avoided.

After 1980 general elections in the country few the Lok Sabha were held at the end of 1984. in …which Congress (I) was returned to power at the centre with a thumping: majority. In, however, many states, as and when, elections for the state Assemblies were held, it lost heavily.

Half of India began to be ruled by non-Congress (I) political parties, thus, causing great strains in centre-state relationship. Congress (I) lost its majority at the centre as a result of elections held in November, 1989. But National Front government headed by Shri V.P. Singh remained in power for less than a year, therefore, the question of centre’s relations with the Congress ruled states is a matter of guess.

When election for the Lok Sabha were held in 1991 Congress (I) party returned as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha and formed the government. B.J.P. was returned as the major opposition party.

This party, however, was in a position to form government in the states of U.P., Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Central Government, however, dissolved these Assemblies though these enjoyed majority in the State Assemblies, in the wake of demolition of Babri Masjid at Ayodhaya.

Today more than half of India is being ruled by non-congress (I) political parties and it is straining relations between centre and the states.