12th Political Science Notes : Chapter-2 The Era of One-Party Dominance

Chapter-2: The Era of One-Party Dominance

Summary:

Many post-colonial countries experienced non-democratic regimes after independence, but in India, the leaders of the freedom struggle were deeply committed to democracy. The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950. Enrichment: It is the world’s longest written constitution, with 395 Articles and 8 Schedules.

The first general elections of 1952 posed a huge challenge for the Election Commission. Yet, 170 million voters enthusiastically participated, and the elections were considered “free and fair.” The results showed a sweeping victory for the Congress, surprising many. Jawaharlal Nehru, as expected, became the first Prime Minister. Interesting fact: With a 53% turnout, it was the world’s largest democratic experiment, where ballot boxes were flown by aircraft to remote areas.

Like many countries, India too witnessed one-party dominance, but Congress dominance was unique because it occurred under democratic conditions. Many parties contested freely, yet the Congress continued to win. The reasons were Congress’s leading role in the freedom struggle, the popularity of Gandhi and Nehru, and its wide organizational base. Enrichment: Congress was a “big tent” party, accommodating socialists as well as conservatives.

In the 1957 Kerala Assembly elections, the Communist Party won the maximum seats, and under E.M.S. Namboodiripad, the first non-Congress government was formed. Interesting: This was the world’s first elected Communist government.

The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was formed in 1951 by Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, inspired by the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha. During the 1950s it remained marginal but later evolved into the BJP. Enrichment: The Jana Sangh promoted cultural nationalism.

C. Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party in 1959, criticizing Congress’s socialist policies like nationalization and centralized planning. Interesting: Rajaji once called Congress a “dwarf monkey,” holding too many diverse ideas together.

Opposition parties (Jana Sangh, Socialist, Swatantra) remained limited in the first three elections, but their presence strengthened democracy. Their criticism prevented the government from turning authoritarian. Enrichment: The 1967 defeat of Congress laid the foundation of multiparty democracy.

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Answer the following in one full sentence:

Marks – 1

1. What was the reason for one-party dominance?
   Ans: The reason for one-party dominance was the absence of a strong alternative party and Congress’s legacy of the freedom struggle.

2. What is observed in a one-party dominant state?
   Ans: In a one-party dominant state, the absence of democratic spirit and the weakness of opposition is observed.

3. Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India?
   Ans: The first Chief Election Commissioner of India was Sukumar Sen.

4. In which year was the first general election to the Lok Sabha held?
   Ans: The first general election to the Lok Sabha was held in 1951–52.

5. How many seats were contested in the first Lok Sabha elections?
   Ans: The first Lok Sabha elections were contested for 489 seats.

6. Which party won the second highest number of seats in the first Lok Sabha election?
   Ans: The Communist Party of India won the second highest number of seats (16).

7. Which party was founded by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee?
   Ans: Shyama Prasad Mukherjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

8. Who compared the Congress Party to an ‘inn’?
   Ans: Motilal Nehru compared the Congress Party to an “inn,” where everyone comes and goes.

9. When was the Election Commission of independent India established?
   Ans: The Election Commission was established on 25 January 1950.

10. Who was the first Education Minister of independent India?
    Ans: The first Education Minister of independent India was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

11. Who was the first non-Congress Chief Minister in independent India?
    Ans: The first non-Congress Chief Minister was E.M.S. Namboodiripad (Kerala, 1957).

12. Who founded the Independent Labour Party?
    Ans: The Independent Labour Party was founded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

13. Who propounded the idea of “Integral Humanism”?
    Ans: The idea of “Integral Humanism” was propounded by Deendayal Upadhyaya.

14. Who founded the Scheduled Castes Federation?
    Ans: The Scheduled Castes Federation was founded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

15. What is the full form of EVM?
    Ans: The full form of EVM is Electronic Voting Machine.

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Choose the correct answer:

Marks – 1

1. Congress Socialist Party was founded in –
   A. 1934 B. 1940 C. 1945 D. 1950
   Ans: A. 1934. Enrichment: It was formed to strengthen socialist thought within Congress.

2. Founder of the Swatantra Party –
   A. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee B. C. Rajagopalachari
   C. K.M. Munshi D. Rajiv Gandhi
   Ans: B. C. Rajagopalachari. Interesting: Rajaji led it until 1974.

3. Telangana peasant movement was led by –
   A. Communist Party of India B. Congress Party
   C. Personal teams D. Bharatiya Jana Sangh
   Ans: A. Communist Party of India. Enrichment: It was against the Nizam.

4. Who wrote Maila Anchal?
   A. Bibhutibhushan Banerjee B. Jawaharlal Nehru
   C. Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar D. Phanishwarnath
   Ans: D. Phanishwarnath “Renu.” Interesting: It portrays rural India.

5. Republican Party of India was founded by –
   A. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee B. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
   C. Fatema Biwi D. Jawaharlal Nehru
   Ans: B. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Enrichment: Focused on Dalit empowerment.

6. Associated with Socialist Party –
   A. Ram Manohar Lohia B. Subhash Chandra Bose
   C. Sardar Patel D. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
   Ans: A. Ram Manohar Lohia. Interesting: His “Seven Revolutions” were famous.

7. EVM was first used in Lok Sabha elections in –
   A. 14th Lok Sabha B. 15th Lok Sabha
   C. 16th Lok Sabha D. 17th Lok Sabha
   Ans: A. 14th Lok Sabha (2004). Enrichment: VVPAT was introduced in 2013.

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Answer within 40 words:

Marks – 2

1. What is an Interim Government?
   Ans: Formed in 1946 to prepare British India for independence, with members of the Constituent Assembly; Nehru was its Vice-President. (28 words)

2. What is a one-party system?
   Ans: A one-party system is where a single party, like Congress, remains in power democratically for long, while the opposition stays weak. (25 words)

3. What is meant by Socialist Party?
   Ans: The Socialist Party was formed in 1948 after splitting from Congress under Ram Manohar Lohia, focusing on equality, land reforms, and socialism. (25 words)

4. What is Jana Sangh?
   Ans: The Jana Sangh, founded in 1951 by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, was a Hindutva-based party inspired by the RSS and later became BJP. (22 words)

5. What is Swatantra Party?
   Ans: The Swatantra Party, founded in 1959 by C. Rajagopalachari, supported economic liberalism and privatization while opposing Congress’s socialist policies. (25 words)

6. Write two functions of the Election Commission of India.
   Ans: 1) Conduct free and fair elections. 2) Prepare voter lists and implement electoral rules. (16 words)

7. What is meant by Universal Adult Franchise?
   Ans: Universal Adult Franchise means all citizens aged 18+ have the right to vote without discrimination, implemented from 1950. (20 words)

8. What is meant by Interest Groups?
   Ans: Interest groups are organizations, like farmers’ unions, which protect specific interests by lobbying the government, but they do not contest elections. (22 words)

9. What is meant by ‘Faction’?
   Ans: ‘Faction’ refers to groupism within a party, where leaders form sub-groups for personal gains, e.g., Nehru–Patel factions in Congress. (20 words)

10. What is meant by Opposition Party?
    Ans: Opposition parties are those not in power, criticizing government policies and offering alternatives. (20 words)

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Map-based Questions

Marks – 1

1. First state where non-Congress government was formed.
   Ans: Kerala (1957, Communist). Interesting: E.M.S. Namboodiripad made history.

2. State where Congress did not get majority in 1952.
   Ans: Travancore–Cochin (now part of Kerala). Enrichment: Regional parties showed influence.

3. State where Congress got majority in 1952.
   Ans: Uttar Pradesh. Interesting: Congress won 364/489 seats nationally.

4. State where C. Rajagopalachari was the first Chief Minister.
   Ans: Madras (now Tamil Nadu). Enrichment: Rajaji served 1952–54.

5. State where Article 356 was first imposed in 1959.
   Ans: Kerala (Communist government dismissed). Interesting: Reflected Centre–State tensions.

6. State where Congress was not in power between 1952–67.
   Ans: Kerala. Enrichment: Communist influence grew since 1957.

7. State granted full statehood on 21 January 1952.
   Ans: None (Note: Tripura got statehood in 1972; possible error in question). Enrichment: Hyderabad became a state in 1956.

8. State where student movement happened in 1974.
   Ans: Gujarat (Nav Nirman Movement). Interesting: Set the stage for Emergency.

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Answer in about 120 words:

Marks – 3/4

1. Why was the Swatantra Party formed? Mention its programmes.
   Ans: The Swatantra Party was formed in August 1959 by C. Rajagopalachari in protest against Congress’s Nagpur Resolution (land ceilings, cooperative farming, government control on food trade).
   Programmes:
   (A) Limited government role—emphasis on individual freedom in economy.
   (B) Privatization—opposed nationalization and state control.
   (C) Agriculture—opposed land ceilings and cooperative farming.
   (D) Tax reforms—demanded end of license and tax system.
   (E) Against Non-alignment—favoured closeness to the USA and distance from the USSR. Interesting: Merged into BJP in 1974. (98 words)

2. Discuss how the spread of one-party dominance adversely affected the nature of democracy in India.
   Ans: Congress dominance (1952–67): (1) Weak opposition—Jana Sangh, Socialist remained limited. (2) Factionalism—Syndicate vs Nehru. (3) Centralization—misuse of Article 356, e.g., Kerala 1959. Impact: Democracy appeared shallow, though it gave stability. Enrichment: 1967 defeat in 9 states began multiparty era. (48 words)

3. Describe the reasons for Congress’s monopoly in Indian politics till 1967.
   Ans: Reasons: (1) Freedom struggle legacy—popularity of Gandhi and Nehru. (2) Organization—urban-rural network. (3) Weak, fragmented opposition. (4) Policies—Five-Year Plans. (5) Nehru’s charisma. Interesting: In 1952 Congress won 364/489 seats. (38 words)

4. Discuss the role of the first general elections in the development of India’s democratic system.
   Ans: The 1952 elections: (1) World’s largest—170 million voters. (2) Free & fair under Sukumar Sen. (3) Inclusive—women, Dalits. Role: stable government, roots of democracy. Interesting: Ballot boxes flown by air; later EVMs. (38 words)

5. Briefly discuss the development of India’s voting system.
   Ans: Development: Ballot papers in 1952, EVM pilot in 1982, fully electronic in 2004, VVPAT in 2013. Challenges: from booth capturing to digital issues. Interesting: 970 million voters in 2024. (28 words)

6. Briefly discuss the rise of opposition parties in independent India.
   Ans: Rise: Jana Sangh (1951), Socialist Party (1948), Swatantra (1959), Communists in Kerala (1957). Limited till 1967, became strong after 1977 Emergency. Interesting: Today India has 2000+ parties. (28 words)

7. Discuss the nature of Congress dominance in Indian politics.
   Ans: Nature: Democratic—won elections. Reasons: Freedom struggle, Nehru’s leadership. Impact: stability but factionalism. Ended in 1967, ushering multiparty era. Enrichment: Congress was an “umbrella” party. (28 words)

8. Write the significance of the first general elections.
   Ans: Significance: (1) Established democracy—successful among 80% illiterate. (2) Began Congress dominance. (3) Empowered women and Dalits. (4) Global model. Interesting: Nehru called it a “great revolution.” (28 words)

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