Read the passage and answer the questions below:
Indian democracy was never so close to a two-party system as it was
during the 1977 elections. However, the next few years saw a complete
change. Soon after its defeat, the Indian National Congress split into
two groups……….. … … …The Janata Party also went through major
convulsions…..David Butler, Ashok Lahiri and Prannoy Roy. — PARTHA
CHATTERJEE
(a) What made the party system in India look like a two-party system in
1977?
(b) Many more than two parties existed in 1977. Why then are the
authors describing this period as close to a two-party system?
(c) What caused splits in Congress and the Janata parties?
Answers
Explanation:
(a) In 1977 the party system in India looked like a two-party system because almost all the opposition parties came together on the eve of elections and formed a new party i.e., Janata Party. The new party accepted the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan. The formation of the Janata Party ensured that non-Congress votes would not be divided. Thus, the contest was between two parties i.e., the Janata Party and the Congress. In the elections the Congress could win only 154 seats. The Janata Party and its allies won 330 seats out of 542 seats in the Lok Sabha.
(b) The authors are describing this period as close to a two-party system because major opposition parties had come together on the eve of the election and formed the Janata Party. Even some leaders Congress who were opposed to the Emergency also joined the new party. Jagjivan Ram, a Congress leader, who had formed his own party - Congress for Democracy, later merged it with the Janata Party. Thus, it looked like a two-party system has come into existence in 1977.
(c) (i) Congress : The main cause for the split in the Congress was that some leaders were opposed to the Emergency, joined the Janata party. Leaders like Jagjivan Ram formed another party. The change in the nature of the Congress was also responsible for its split. The Congress party now identified with particular ideology and depended on the appeal of one leader like Indira Gandhi. It was no longer an umbrella party which accomodated leaders and workers of different ideological dispensations and view points.
(ii) Janata party : The cause of the split in the Janata Party was that it lacked direction leadership and a common programme. It was the Emergency that could keep the opposition together for a while. The party was not cohesive. There was competition for the post of Prime Minister. Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister but the power struggle within the party continued and ultimately led to its split.
Answer:
(a) Emergency declaration in 1977 and political crisis made India's government a two-party system.
(b) There have been two parties in 1977, Congress and non-Congress, identified as two parties closely related to the two-party system, as it ended the one-party dominance and Janata, the non-Congressional party, emerged.
(c) Congress divided: 1969 presidential elections problems split by the Senate. Partido Split de Janata Tensions for leadership in 1979 between three leaders Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram.