“Indian democracy was never so close to a two-party system as it was during the 1977 elections.

Question

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 Party?

Answer 1

(a) The imposition of emergency in 1977 and political crisis made the party system in India look like a two-party system. 

(b) Two parties existed in 1977 were Congress and non-Congress parties to be described as close to a two-party system because it ended the one-party dominance and emerged Janata Party, an umbrella of non-Congress parties. 

(c) Split in Congress: Congress split on the issues of presidential elections in 1969. Split in Janata Party: On tensions among three leaders Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram for leadership in 1979.