After Lai Bahadur Sastri, Indira Gandhi became the PM. Her coming to power was not through a unanimous decision. Morarji Desai had contested against Indira Gandhi. Indira was chosen through a secret ballot among the members of the Congress. The elderly leaders supported Indira. They thought that because of her lack of experience in administration, she would come to them for advice and suggestions. But Indira Gandhi soon proved that she could handle even difficult problems by herself.
During the 4th General Election, the country was experiencing some very difficult problems. There was lack of rain. There were droughts and food production was very low. Industrial output and export were also low. The Wars of 1962 and 1965 increased military expenses greatly. She overcame these problems through proper planning, utilization of available resources and changes brought about in the economic policies. One of her first decision was to fight inflation by devaluing the Indian Rupee. Many people thought that she devalued the Rupee under pressure from the US. This devaluation increased the price of essential goods. The lack of foodstuff and unemployment adversely affected the financial well-being of the nation. People started reacting. There were hartals and bandhs here and there. The government looked at them as a law and order problem. Indira had to answer questions put forward by the Opposition.
The Communist Party and the Socialist Party began protests. The CPI (M) even organized armed struggle and agricultural worker’s protests. The Opposition Parties came together against the policies of the government. They thought that Indira’s inexperience and the groupism in the ruling party would enable them to topple the government. Ram Manohar Lohia spoke about “Non Congressism”. In his view the Congress rule was anti democratic and against the interest of the masses. The big Hindu-Muslim riots after independence also occurred at this time.
It was during this confused state of affairs, the first election after Nehru’s death was conducted. The result was favourable to Congress. It was a ‘political earthquake’. Congress was able to retain its majority in the Lok Sabha. But it was a very small majority. In many States it lost power.
There was a popular talk at that time. It meant that if you took a train from Delhi to Howrah, you would not pass through any Congress ruled State. Defections helped in forming non-Congress governments in many places. The biggest challenge Indira Gandhi had to face was not from the Opposition but from her own party.
She had to a face a powerful Syndicate in the party itself working against her. But soon she was able to take control and took strong measures. She did certain things showing her leaning towards the Left. In 1967, she formed a 10-point action plan. Banks were controlled, insurance was nationalized, and ceiling was set for urban property. She also carried out public distribution of food grains, land reforms, village housing schemes. Although the Syndicate agreed to these changes, it was not happy.
When Dr. Zakir Hussain died in 1969, there was election for the President. During this election the difference between Indira Gandhi and the Syndicate came in the open. The Syndicate nominated Mr Sanjeeva Reddy.
Indira Gandhi supported the then Vice President V.V. Giri as an independent candidate. It was around this time that she nationalized 14 banks and stopped the Privy Purse given to the rulers of the Princely Sates. Morarji Desai opposed both these actions. He resigned from the Ministry.
In the Presidential election, the Congress President N. Nijalingappa asked the Congress MPs and MLAs sto vote for N. Sanjeeva Reddy. Silently supporting V.V. Giri, Indira asked the MPs and MLAs to vote according to their conscience. Ultimately V.V. Giri was elected President. The failure of the official candidate to win, split the Party. The Party ousted Indira Gandhi. But she claimed the real party was her party. The Congress Party of the Syndicate was called Congress (O) and the Congress Party of Indira was called Congress (R). (O) meant Organization and (R) meant Requisitionist. Indira Gandhi termed this division as an ideological division between Socialists and Conservatives and the poor and the rich.
The split in the Congress Party reduced the majority of Indira Gandhi’s government. But with help from the CPI and DMK, the government continued. During this time Indira Gandhi brought strong land reforms bills. In 1970 she recommended the dissolution of the Lok Sabha as she did not want to rule with the help of some other parties. This election was between Congress (O) and Congress (R) and also the Grand Alliance.
The Opposition had only one agenda remove Indira Gandhi from power. But Indira Gandhi came out with another powerful slogan “Garibi Hatao” (Remove Poverty). Her dream was to have a self sufficient India. The 1971 election was favourable to the Congress (R) and the CPI. They got 375 seats. By claiming that her Congress was the original Congress, Indira was able to gain the upper hand in Indian politics.
