It is long period but I would like to summarize-
Partition:
In 1947 when British were leaving India the country had only two major political parties viz. Congress and Muslim League. They could not reconcile their differences, consequently India was divided between India and Pakistan. India for Congress and Pakistan for Muslim league.
1947 - 57 and First General Elections in 1952:
First General Elections were held in 1952. As there was no major political party to fight against Congress as Muslim league had already taken part of India as Pakistan and was not in contention. Communist party became second largest party with 16 seats (against 364 of Congress). There were several other socialist parties but their effect was limited to certain areas. Bhartiya Jana Sangh (BJS) which was predecessor of current Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) fought the elections but got 3 seats only. Politics was mostly politics of powerful and all the people who wanted to enjoy the privileges joined Congress for that to fill the vacuum left behind by Britishers and various kingdoms which were dissolved. But during this time lot of political activities were taking place and various parties were gaining ground in different parts of countries.
It was hoped that Communist party will be greatest challenger to Congress. But it was confined mostly to Bengal and Kerala. Here it is to be noted that even though Congress was only party with all India presence and recognition, still they did not get even 50% of the popular votes.
At top J L Nehru was dominating Congress party. He was already promoting his daughter Indira as M L Nehru has promoted JL Nehru. He got her elected to president-ship of Congress.
1957-75 Dominance is challenged:
In 1957 first elected communist government of the world came to power in Kerala state of India. It was first defeat for Congress in any major state. In 1967 DMK led by charismatic MGR came to power in Tamilnadu. Meanwhile Nehru had died in 1962 and Indira got hold of party and government after untimely death of Lal Bahadur Shastri. Now hold of dynasty was complete over the grand old party and several leader who felt suffocated in this new set up, they resigned Congress to form their own parties. Several parties were born and most important of those was Bhartiya Kranti Dal formed by Chaudhry Charan Singh in 1967, who went on to be prime minister of India.During this period several more states had shown doors to Congress and it was crumbling. In fact Indira Gandhi had divided the party to keep her hold on the party after being expelled by party president S. Nijalingappa in 1969. Till this time Congress and later on Congress (Indira) were comfortably dominating country at national level even though they had lost power in several states and no opposition was present at national level.
1975-1980 Emergency, dictatorship and first Non-Congress government at center. Whole opposition unites under the leadership of Jaiprakash Narayan naming itself Janta Party.
1980: BJP is born which went on to be first political party to face Caongress in more than one election at national level and ultimately becoming pole of alternative politics after 1989.
1980-1989: Another decade of Congress rise of first major opposition at larger scale in the form of BJP.
1989-90: Second non-Congress government. Janta Dal supported by BJP. It is first coalition government in true sense.
1990-91: First government supported by Congress from outside.
1991-96: First minority government lead by Congress.
All this while regional parties were rising. Lalu, Mulayam, Mayawati, Biju patnaik, Jayalalita, Mamta, Devi Lal, Bala Saheb created big regional forces.
1996-1998: Coalition governments supported by Congress just to stop BJP. Concept of political secularism gain popularity.
1998-2004: First non Congress government complete full term in office (1999-2004). Atal Bihari Vajpayee became first prime minister who was never associated with Congress in any form.
2004-2014: Return of Congress but just as leader of coalition. Families continue to dominate regional parties as well as Congress (where process started much earlier). Regional forces has achieved the peak.
2014........: Politics is changed decisively. First full majority non-Congress government in Delhi led by charismatic leader Narendra Modi. Congress, which was central script all these years is reduced to two digit. Defeated so badly that it can not even claim position of leader of opposition.
New era begins as country get first full majority government after 1984.
Partition:
In 1947 when British were leaving India the country had only two major political parties viz. Congress and Muslim League. They could not reconcile their differences, consequently India was divided between India and Pakistan. India for Congress and Pakistan for Muslim league.
1947 - 57 and First General Elections in 1952:
First General Elections were held in 1952. As there was no major political party to fight against Congress as Muslim league had already taken part of India as Pakistan and was not in contention. Communist party became second largest party with 16 seats (against 364 of Congress). There were several other socialist parties but their effect was limited to certain areas. Bhartiya Jana Sangh (BJS) which was predecessor of current Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) fought the elections but got 3 seats only. Politics was mostly politics of powerful and all the people who wanted to enjoy the privileges joined Congress for that to fill the vacuum left behind by Britishers and various kingdoms which were dissolved. But during this time lot of political activities were taking place and various parties were gaining ground in different parts of countries.
It was hoped that Communist party will be greatest challenger to Congress. But it was confined mostly to Bengal and Kerala. Here it is to be noted that even though Congress was only party with all India presence and recognition, still they did not get even 50% of the popular votes.
At top J L Nehru was dominating Congress party. He was already promoting his daughter Indira as M L Nehru has promoted JL Nehru. He got her elected to president-ship of Congress.
1957-75 Dominance is challenged:
In 1957 first elected communist government of the world came to power in Kerala state of India. It was first defeat for Congress in any major state. In 1967 DMK led by charismatic MGR came to power in Tamilnadu. Meanwhile Nehru had died in 1962 and Indira got hold of party and government after untimely death of Lal Bahadur Shastri. Now hold of dynasty was complete over the grand old party and several leader who felt suffocated in this new set up, they resigned Congress to form their own parties. Several parties were born and most important of those was Bhartiya Kranti Dal formed by Chaudhry Charan Singh in 1967, who went on to be prime minister of India.During this period several more states had shown doors to Congress and it was crumbling. In fact Indira Gandhi had divided the party to keep her hold on the party after being expelled by party president S. Nijalingappa in 1969. Till this time Congress and later on Congress (Indira) were comfortably dominating country at national level even though they had lost power in several states and no opposition was present at national level.
1975-1980 Emergency, dictatorship and first Non-Congress government at center. Whole opposition unites under the leadership of Jaiprakash Narayan naming itself Janta Party.
1980: BJP is born which went on to be first political party to face Caongress in more than one election at national level and ultimately becoming pole of alternative politics after 1989.
1980-1989: Another decade of Congress rise of first major opposition at larger scale in the form of BJP.
1989-90: Second non-Congress government. Janta Dal supported by BJP. It is first coalition government in true sense.
1990-91: First government supported by Congress from outside.
1991-96: First minority government lead by Congress.
All this while regional parties were rising. Lalu, Mulayam, Mayawati, Biju patnaik, Jayalalita, Mamta, Devi Lal, Bala Saheb created big regional forces.
1996-1998: Coalition governments supported by Congress just to stop BJP. Concept of political secularism gain popularity.
1998-2004: First non Congress government complete full term in office (1999-2004). Atal Bihari Vajpayee became first prime minister who was never associated with Congress in any form.
2004-2014: Return of Congress but just as leader of coalition. Families continue to dominate regional parties as well as Congress (where process started much earlier). Regional forces has achieved the peak.
2014........: Politics is changed decisively. First full majority non-Congress government in Delhi led by charismatic leader Narendra Modi. Congress, which was central script all these years is reduced to two digit. Defeated so badly that it can not even claim position of leader of opposition.
New era begins as country get first full majority government after 1984.
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