Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System Class 12 Political Science Chapter 5 CBSE Notes 2025-26

The political landscape of India in the 1960s witnessed immense change and turbulence. After the era of Nehru, the Congress system that once seemed invincible came under pressure from both internal splits and increasing opposition unity. Understanding these developments is key to appreciating how Indian democracy matured by overcoming multiple challenges.

In 1964, the sudden demise of Jawaharlal Nehru raised concerns inside and outside India about the survival of its democratic setup. There was speculation on who would succeed him and questions about whether India could manage the transition democratically. The process that followed put these doubts to rest. 

K. Kamraj, Congress President, built consensus for Lal Bahadur Shastri, a respected and non-controversial leader. Shastri served as Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966 and guided India through a food crisis, failed monsoons, and the 1965 war with Pakistan. His slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" embodied the country’s twin focus on soldiers and farmers.

Tragically, Lal Bahadur Shastri’s tenure ended abruptly with his death in January 1966. The Congress once again faced a leadership challenge. This time, the contest between Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi was notable. Although senior leaders supported Indira Gandhi, the selection came down to a vote among Congress MPs. Indira Gandhi’s victory and subsequent peaceful power transfer were seen as marks of democratic maturity.

The 1967 Lok Sabha elections marked a watershed in Indian politics. For the first time, the Congress party's dominance was seriously threatened. The period leading up to the elections was marred by economic difficulties—successive droughts, price rises, declining production, food shortages, and public unrest. Indira Gandhi’s government devalued the rupee, which initially did not help the country’s foreign reserves but did create further anxiety and protests.

People’s discontent was visible through numerous agitations, strikes, and bandhs across India. Opposition parties, which had earlier been divided, began to strategize and unite under the idea of “non-Congressism” (promoted by leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia). Multiple opposition parties formed anti-Congress alliances and entered seat-sharing arrangements. In the elections, Congress retained power at the Centre but with its lowest ever seat and vote share, losing its majority or support in roughly nine states. Many key Congress leaders, including Kamaraj and Atulya Ghosh, suffered defeat.

• Congress for the first time lost state-level power in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Madras (now Tamil Nadu), and Kerala.
• Coalition governments (Samyukt Vidhayak Dal or SVD) became common, even though partners often disagreed ideologically.
• Defections—MLAs frequently shifting allegiance—became prevalent, leading to the phrase "Aya Ram, Gaya Ram." This instability necessitated a constitutional amendment later to curb such practices.

The Congress split into two distinct groups: Congress (Organisation) or 'Old Congress', mostly led by the Syndicate (powerful party managers), and Congress (Requisitionists) under Indira Gandhi, called 'New Congress'. Indira Gandhi started asserting her own policies, gradually sidelining the Syndicate and projecting her leadership on an all-India scale.

A deep ideological conflict developed within the Congress. Indira Gandhi adopted a distinctly left-leaning policy direction, introducing a Ten Point Programme that focused on banking nationalization, social control of industries, urban property ceilings, and poverty alleviation. The divide became sharper during the 1969 presidential election. While the Syndicate backed N. Sanjeeva Reddy, Indira Gandhi encouraged V.V. Giri to run as an independent. Her faction’s victory led to a formal split in the Congress Party. The 'Old' and 'New' Congress projected themselves as representative of conservative-rich and progressive-poor interests respectively.

Key measures by Indira Gandhi included bank nationalization and the abolition of privy purses (special privileges for former princes), emphasizing her pro-poor approach. These decisions resonated with the public and increased her popularity nationally.

Although Indira Gandhi’s Congress was technically in a minority after the split, she called for fresh elections in 1971. Most opposition parties together formed the Grand Alliance on a platform to remove Indira Gandhi, while her faction, Congress (R), campaigned around the slogan “Garibi Hatao” (Remove Poverty). This clear and positive agenda appealed to the masses, especially the disadvantaged, and dwarfed the fragmented opposition’s efforts.

The outcome of the 1971 elections was staggering: Congress (R) and its allies won by a record margin, securing 352 seats with nearly 44% of the vote, while the Congress (O) won just 16 seats. This political dominance was further solidified after India’s victory in the 1971 Bangladesh war, enhancing both Indira Gandhi’s popularity and the image of a rejuvenated Congress system.

While the Congress regained prominence, it was not a revival of the old party structure. The new Congress under Indira Gandhi was more centralized and dependent on a single leader, with a weakened inner party democracy. Factions were fewer, and the party no longer sought to accommodate all interests as before. The political system had survived critical transitions, but the Congress Party’s nature and Indian politics had altered considerably.

Overall, the 1960s and early 1970s were years of important learning and change for Indian democracy, marked by greater opposition participation, increasing role of regional parties, and the shift from consensus-driven to more leader-centric politics at the Centre.

• Lal Bahadur Shastri: Prime Minister (1964–66), remembered for probity and the "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" slogan.
• Indira Gandhi: Prime Minister (1966–77, 1980–84), central in reshaping Congress and bringing bold reforms.
• K. Kamraj, S. Nijalingappa: Leaders of the Congress Syndicate.
• Ram Manohar Lohia: Socialist thinker and architect of non-Congressism.
• C.N. Annadurai: DMK leader and first non-Congress Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu.

• Syndicate: Informal group of influential Congress party managers shaping earlier leadership decisions.
• Defection: Elected legislators switching parties, leading to instability ("Aya Ram Gaya Ram").
• Non-Congressism: Strategy for opposition unity against Congress to safeguard democracy.
• Garibi Hatao: Indira Gandhi’s mass-appeal slogan centered on poverty alleviation.

For revision, focus on the reasons behind the split in Congress, the rise of coalition politics, the influence of key leaders, and the broader consequence for Indian democracy. Use the following exercise types for further preparation:

1. Identify correct and incorrect statements about the 1967 elections and major alliances.
2. Match terms like Syndicate and Defection to their definitions.
3. Explain major causes for Indira Gandhi’s popularity post-1971.
4. Discuss the impact of party splits on national and state-level politics.

Understanding this chapter prepares you to analyze how India’s political institutions coped with significant tests and ultimately emerged more representative and resilient.

Class 12 Political Science Chapter 5 Notes – Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System

These Class 12 Political Science notes on "Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System" summarize the rise of opposition, the Congress split, and Indira Gandhi’s role in restructuring Indian politics. Comprehensive pointers and timelines help students revise crucial facts for CBSE exams. Review all major events, leaders, and policies for success in your Board preparation.

Organized bullet lists in these Class 12 notes enable better recall of the 1967 and 1971 election outcomes, coalition trends, and the transformation of the Congress party. Reading these concise summaries ensures you remember each important point and the key implications for democracy in India. Strengthen your answers with easy-to-understand explanations for every heading.