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NCERT Class 12 Political Science Chapter 12 Parties And The Party Systems in India
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Parties And The Party Systems in India
Chapter: 12
POLITICAL SCIENCE
PART – II: CHALLENGES OF NATION BUILDING
TEXTBOOK QUESTION ANSWER
Q. 1. Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks:
(a) The first general elections in 1952 involved simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and ___________. (the President of India / State Assemblies/ Rajya Sabha/ the Prime Minister)
Ans. State Assemblies.
(b) The party that won the second largest number of Lok Sabha seats in the first elections was the ___________. (Praja Socialist Party / Bharatiya Jana Sangh/ Communist Party of India Bharatiya Janata Party)
Ans. Communist Party of India.
(c) One of the guiding principles of the ideology of the Swatantra Party was ____________. (working class interests / protection of Princely States/ economy free from State control / autonomy of States within the Union)
Ans. economy free from the State control.
Q. 2. Match the following leaders listed in List A with the parties in List B.
| List A | List B |
| (a) S. A. Dange | (i) Bharatiya Jana Sangh |
| (b) Shyama Prasad Mukherjee | (ii) Swatantra Party |
| (c) Minoo Masani | (iii) Praja Socialist Party |
| (d) Ashok Mehta | (iv) Communist Party of India |
Ans.
| List A | List B |
| (a) S. A. Dange | (iv) Communist Party of India |
| (b) Shyama Prasad Mukherjee | (i) Bharatiya Jana Sangh |
| (c) Minoo Masani | (ii) Swatantra Party |
| (d) Ashok Mehta | (iii) Praja Socialist Party |
Q. 3. Four statements regarding one- party dominance are given below. Mark each of them as true or false:
(a) One-party dominance is rooted in the absence of strong alternative political parties.
Ans. true.
(b) One-party dominance occurs because of weak public opinion.
Ans. true.
(c) One-party dominance is linked to the nation’s colonial past.
Ans. false.
(d) One-party dominance reflects the absence of democratic ideals in a country.
Ans. true.
Q. 4. If Bharatiya Jana Sangh or the Communist Party of India had formed the government after the first election, in which respects would the policies of the government have been different? Specify three differences each for both the parties.
Ans. If Bharatiya Jana Sangh or the Communist Party of India had formed the government after the first election, the policies of the government would have been different as follows:
(i) The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was in forefront of the agitation or replace English with Hindi as the official language of India. Communist party follows that which independence we have got that is not real due to the transfer of power.
(ii) The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was also opposed to the granting of concessions to religious and cultural minorities. Communist leaders were advocating socialism.
(iii) Bharatiya Jana Sangh was a consistent advocate of India developing nuclear weapons especially after China carried out its atomic test in 1964.
Q. 5. In what sense was the Congress an ideological coalition? Mention the various ideological currents present within the Congress.
Ans. By the time of independence, the Congress was transferred into rainbow like social coalition broadly representing India’s diversity in terms of classes and castes, religions and languages and various interests. Many of these groups merged than identify within the Congress. In this sense, Congress was an ideological coalition as well.
The Congress was already a very well-organised party and by the time the other parties could even think of a strategy, the Congress had already started its campaign. In fact, many parties were formed only around independence or after that. Thus the Congress had the first off the blocks advantage. By the time of Independence the party had not only spread across the length and breadth of the country as we had seen in the maps but also had an organisational network down to the local level.
Q. 6. Did the prevalence of a ‘one party dominant system’ affect adversely the democracy nature of Indian politics?
Ans. Yes. One party dominant system adversely affects the Indian politics. The explanation for such a change is provided by the essential feature of the party i.e. its broad social character and its basic coalition strategy. If some groups or individual leaders leave the party, many others walk into it. The Congress closes its doors and also keeps it open, life story of a party cannot be fully understood by concentrating on its internal dynamics and election winning compulsions.
Q. 7. Bring out three differences each between Socialist Party and the Communist Party and between Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party.
Ans. Differences between Socialist Party and the Communist Party:
1. The leaders of Socialist Party wanted a more radical and egalitarian Congress, but the communists worked mainly from within the fold of the Indian National Congress.
2. The socialists believed in the ideology of democratic socialism but the communists worked mainly within the fold of the Indian National Congress.
3. The socialists criticised the Congress for favouring capitalists and landlords and for ignoring the workers and the peasants but the Communist Party abandoned the path of violent resolution and decided to participate in the approaching general elections.
Differences between Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party:
1. Bharatiya Jana Sangh emphasised the idea of one country, one culture and one nation and believed that the country could become modern, progressive and strong on the basis of Indian culture and traditions, but the Swatantra Party wanted the Government to be less and less involved in controlling the economy.
2. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was a consistent advocate of India developing nuclear weapons especially after China carried out its atomic tests in 1964, but the Swatantra Party attracted the landlords and princes who wanted to protect their land reforms legislation.
3. Bharatiya Jana Sangh called for a reunion of India and planned Akhand Bharat, but the Swatantra Party gained strength in different parts of the country by way of merger with several regional parties.
Q. 8. What would you consider as the main differences between Mexico and India under one party domination?
Or
How was ‘One Party Dominance’ in India different from the ‘One Party System’ of Mexico? In your opinion, which of the two political system is better and why?
Ans. The main differences between Mexico and India under one-party domination were as given below:
| Mexico | India |
| (i) In Mexico, the Institutional Revolutionary Party or the PRI dominated for almost sixty years. | (i) In India, Indian National Congress’s dominance for about fifteen years. |
| (ii) PRI was mixture of various interests including military leaders. | (ii) Indian National Congress did not represent military leaders. |
| (iii) In Mexico, electoral laws were operated in a manner so as to ensure that the PRI always won. Elections were rigged and manipulated by the ruling party. | (iii) In India there were always fair and free elections. |
| (iv) In Mexico, tactics adopted by the PRI 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. | (iv) In India, the dominance of Congress did not have any bad effect. The relations between the ruling party and the opposition were cordial. People had full faith in democracy as there were always free and fair elections. |
Q. 9. Take a political map of India (with state outlines) and mark:
(a) two states where Congress was not in power at some point during 1952-67.
Ans: 1. Jammu and Kashmir.
2. Kerala.
(b) two states where the Congress remained in power through this period.
Ans: 1. Uttar Pradesh. and
2. Maharashtra.
Q. 10. Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
“Patel, the organisational man of the Congress wanted to purge the Congress of other political groups and sought to make of its a cohesive and discipline political party. He…… sought to take the Congress away from its all-embracing character and turn it into a close-knit party of disciplined cadres. Being a ‘realist’ he looked more for discipline than for comprehension. While Gandhi took too romantic a view of “carrying on the movement”, Patel’s idea of transforming the Congress into strictly political party with a single ideology and tight discipline showed an equal lack of understanding of the eclectic role that the Congress, as a government, was to be called upon to perform in the decades to follow.”
-Rajni Kothari
Questions
(a) Why does the author think that Congress should not have been a cohesive and disciplined party?
Ans. The organisational man of the Congress i.e. Patel wanted to purge the Congress of other political groups and sought to make of it a cohesive and disciplined political party. He sought to take the Congress away from its all embracing character and turn it into a close knit party of disciplined cadres.
(b) Give some examples of the eclectic role of the Congress party in the early years.
Ans. In the beginning, the Congress as a party dominated by the English speaking upper caste, upper middle class and urban elite. But with every civil disobedience movement it launched its social base widened. Patel’s idea of transforming the Congress into strictly political party within a single ideology and tight disciplined showed an equal look of understanding the eclectic role that the Congress to a government, was to be called upon to perform in the decades to follow.
(c) Why does the author say that Gandhi’s view about Congress’ future was romantic?
Ans. Being a ‘realist’ he looked more for discipline than for comprehension. While Gandhiji took too romantic a view of a carrying on the movement.
Q. 11. Which of these statements about the 1967 elections is/ are correct?
(a) Congress won the Lok Sabha elections but lost the Assembly elections in many states.
(b) Congress lost both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
(c) Congress lost majority in the Lok Sabha but formed a coalition government with the support of some other parties.
(d) Congress retained power at the Centre with an increased majority.
Ans. (a) and (d).
Q. 12. Match the following:
| (a) Syndicate | (i) An elected representative leaving the party on whose ticket she/he has been elected. |
| (b) Defection | (ii) A catchy phrase that attracts public attention. |
| (c) Slogan | (iii) Parties with different ideological position coming together to oppose Congress and its policies. |
| (d) Anti-Congressism | (iv) A group of powerful and influential leaders within the Congress. |
Ans.
| (a) Syndicate | (iv) A group of powerful and influential leaders within the Congress. |
| (b) Defection | (i) An elected representative leaving the party on whose ticket she/he has been elected. |
| (c) Slogan | (ii) A catchy phrase that attracts public attention. |
| (d) Anti-Congressism | (iii) Parties with different ideological position coming together to oppose Congress and its policies. |
Q. 13. Whom would you identify with the following slogans/ phrases?
(a) Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.
Ans. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.
(b) Indira Hatao!
Ans. The Grand Alliance.
(c) Garibi Hatao!
Ans. Smt. Indira Gandhi.
Q. 14. Which of the following statement about the Grand Alliance of 1971 is correct?
The Grand Alliance ____________.
(a) was formed by non-Communist, non-Congress parties.
(b) had a clear political and ideological programme.
(c) was formed by all non-Congress parties.
Ans. (a) was formed by non-Communist, non-Congress parties.
Q. 15. How should a political party resolve its internal differences? Here are some suggestions. Think of each and list out their advantages and shortcomings.
(a) Follow the footsteps of the party president.
(b) Listen to the majority group.
(c) Secret ballot voting on every issue.
(d) Consult the senior and experienced leaders of the party.
Ans. Advantages:
1. If we follow the footsteps of the party president the party becomes sound.
2. If we accept or follow majority view, we won’t get insulted.
3. Our vote or advice is secret, when secret ballot voting on every issue.
4. We should consult the senior and experienced leaders of the party because it gives us good path.
Shortcomings:
1. If we do not follow the footsteps of the party leader then he does not appreciate us.
2. If we do not listen the majority group the majority do not share with us.
3. If we do not consult the senior and experienced leaders of the party, we do not safeguard our path of goodness.
Q. 16. State which of these were reasons for the defeat of the Congress in 1967. Give reasons for your answer.
(a) The absence of a charismatic leader the Congress Party.
(b) Split within the Congress Party.
(c) Increased mobilisation of regional, ethnic and communal groups.
(d) Increasing unity among non-Congress 191789 parties.
(e) Internal differences within the Congress Party.
Ans. (d) Increasing unity among non-Congress parties.
The elections of 1967 brought into picture the phenomenon of coalitions. Since no single party had got majority, various non-Congress parties came together to form joint legislative parties that supported non-Congress governments. These governments came to be described as SVD governments. In most of these cases the coalition partners were ideologically incongruent. The SVD government in Bihar, for instance, included the two socialist parties-SSP and the PSP-along with the CPI on the left and Jana Sangh on the right. In Punjab, it was called the ‘Popular United Front’ and comprised the two rival Akali parties at that time-Sant group and the Master group-with both the communist parties-the CPI and the CPI (M), the SSP, the Republic Party and the Bhartiya Jan Sangh. This unity proved a hard blow to the Congress in 1967 election.
(e) Internal differences within the Congress Party.
The factional rivalry between the Syndicate and powerful leaders within Congress and Indira Gandhi came in the open after Indira Gandhi’s take over of Prime Ministership. Morarji Desai was Deputy Prime Minister in Congress Government. He did not like Indira’s hegemony over Congress. The differences between both the leaders led a faction in the party. As a result Congress defeated in 1967 election.
Q. 17. What were the factors which led to the popularity of Indira Gandhi’s Government in the early 1970s?
Ans. There were some factors which led to the popularity of Indira Gandhi’s government in the early 1970s:
(i) Challenge to Indira Gandhi as a party boss.
(ii) Slogan of “Garibi Hatao”.
(iii) India-Pakistan War of 1971.
Q. 18. What does the term ‘Syndicate’ mean in the context of the Congress party of the sixties? What role did the Syndicate play in the Congress party?
Ans. Meaning of the Syndicate in the context of the Congress Party: Syndicate was the informal name given to a group of Congress leaders who were in control of the party’s organisation. It was led by K. Kamraj, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the then President of the Congress Party. It included powerful state leaders like S.K. Patil of Bombay city (later name as Mumbai), S. Nijalingappa of Mysore (later Karnataka), N. Sanjeeva Reddy of Andhra Pradesh and Atulya Ghosh of West Bengal.
Role of Syndicate in the Congress Party: Both Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi owed their position to the support received from the Syndicate. The Syndicate had played a role in the installation of Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister by ensuring her election as the leader of the parliamentary party. This group had a decisive say in Indira Gandhi’s first Council of Ministers and also in policy formulation and implementation. After the Congress split the leaders of the Syndicate and those owing allegiance to them stayed with the Congress (O). Since it was Indira Gandhi’s Congress (R) that won the test of popularity, all these big and powerful men of Indian politics lost their power and prestige after 1971.
Q. 19. Discuss the major issue which led to the formal split of the Congress Party in 1969.
Ans. The defeat of the official Congress candidate formalised the split in the party. The Congress President expelled the Prime Minister from the party. She claimed that her group was the real Congress because after the support of Indira Gandhi requisitioned a special meeting of the ICC, but this was refusal. After openly called for a ‘conscience vote’ which meant that the MPs and MLAs from the Congress should be free to vote to the candidate that they want. The election ultimately resulted in the victory of V.V. Giri, the independent candidate and the defeat of Sanjeeva Reddy who was the official candidate of the Congress Party.
By November 1969, the Congress group led by the ‘Syndicate’ came to be referred to as the Congress (Organisation) and the group led by Indira Gandhi came to be called the Congress (Requisitionists). These two parties were also described as Old Congress and New Congress. Indira Gandhi projected the split as an ideological divide between socialists and conservatives, between the pro-poor and the pro-rich.
Q. 20. Read the passage and answer the questions given below:
“….Indira Gandhi changed the Congress into highly centralised and undemocratic party organisation, from the earlier federal democracy and ideological formation that Nehru had led…… But this …could not have happened had not Indira Gandhi changed the entire nature of politics. This new, populist politics turned political ideology……..into a mere electoral discourse, use of various slogans not meant to be translated into government policies……During its great electoral victories in early 1970s, amidst the celebration, the Congress party as a political organisation died…….”
-Sudipta Kaviraj
(a) What according to the author is the difference between the strategies of Nehru and Indira Gandhi?
Ans. Indira Gandhi changed the Congress into highly centralised and undemocratic party organisation from the earlier federal, demand and ideological formation that Nehru had led, but this could not have happened. Indira Gandhi changed the entire nature of politics.
(b) Why does the author say that the Congress party ‘died’ in the seventies?
Ans. Congress party died in the seventies it was said by the author because Congress Party have lost its principles and ideology.
(c) In what way, did the change in the Congress party affect other political parties also?
Ans. When various changes have come in the Congress than other political parties had come into existence.
