Loading PDF...
Chapter Analysis
Intermediate18 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
The chapter 'Era of One-party Dominance' in the Class 12 Political Science textbook discusses the dominance of the Indian National Congress in the early years of independent India. It highlights how Congress's broad-based social and ideological coalition allowed it to dominate the political landscape by accommodating diverse groups. The chapter examines the Congress's electoral strategies, the role of opposition parties, and the broader impact of one-party dominance on Indian democracy.
Key Topics
- •Congress party's electoral dominance in the post-independence era
- •Role of first-past-the-post electoral system
- •Internal factions within Congress
- •Emergence and role of opposition parties
- •Kerala's 1957 Communist government
- •Congress as a social and ideological coalition
- •Challenges faced by opposition in a one-party dominant system
- •Impact of charismatic leadership on electoral success
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the reasons behind the Congress's electoral dominance post-independence
- ✓Analyze the political landscape of India during the 1950s and 1960s
- ✓Evaluate the role of electoral systems in political outcomes
- ✓Examine the strategies employed by Congress to manage internal factions
- ✓Assess the impact of opposition parties in maintaining democratic norms
- ✓Interpret the significance of landmark events like Kerala's 1957 elections
Questions in Chapter
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)
Page 43
Match the following leaders listed in List A with the parties in List B.
Page 43
Four statements regarding one-party dominance are given below. Mark each of them as true or false.
Page 43
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. (b) two states where the Congress remained in power through this period.
Page 43
Read the following passage and answer the questions below.
Page 43
Additional Practice Questions
Discuss how the Congress managed to maintain its dominance in the Indian political landscape in the years following independence.
mediumAnswer: The Congress maintained its dominance by leveraging its legacy as the leader of the freedom struggle, presenting a broad-based social coalition that included various groups and interests, and managing internal factions effectively. Its inclusive nature allowed it to counter opposition claims and absorb dissent within its ranks.
What role did Jawaharlal Nehru play in the Congress's electoral success in the early years?
mediumAnswer: Jawaharlal Nehru, with his charismatic leadership and as a prominent figure of the freedom struggle, was pivotal in garnering popular support for Congress. His campaigns and vision for a secular, democratic India resonated widely with the electorate.
Analyze the impact of the first-past-the-post electoral system on the Congress's dominance in the 1952 elections.
hardAnswer: The first-past-the-post system allowed Congress to convert a plurality of votes into a majority of seats, thus amplifying its electoral success. The opposition's fragmented vote shares could not translate into a significant number of seats, reinforcing Congress's dominance.
Explain the term 'Congress system' as used in the context of post-independence Indian politics.
hardAnswer: The 'Congress system' refers to the political situation where the Congress party functioned both as the ruling party and the opposition, with its internal factions representing different interests that would otherwise form separate opposition parties.
Identify and discuss the challenges faced by opposition parties in India during the era of one-party dominance.
mediumAnswer: Opposition parties struggled against Congress's skilled coalition-building and its ability to cater to diverse social groups. They often lacked the organizational strength and pan-Indian presence of Congress, which hindered their electoral success.
How did the Congress balance various conflicting interests within its broad coalition?
hardAnswer: The Congress managed conflicting interests by promoting a culture of compromise and inclusivity, avoiding extreme positions, and strategically accommodating the ambitions and views of diverse social and economic groups.
Evaluate the significance of the 1957 Kerala elections for Indian democracy.
mediumAnswer: The 1957 Kerala elections, where a Communist government was democratically elected, highlighted India's commitment to a democratic process, showcasing that even ideologically diverse parties could ascend to power through elections.
Discuss the role of media and public opinion in shaping the narrative of Congress's dominance post-independence.
mediumAnswer: Media played a dual role by both critiquing and reinforcing Congress's narrative of national unity and progressive leadership. Public opinion was swayed by Congress's association with the independence movement, granting it considerable legitimacy.
What factors led to the eventual decline of Congress's dominance in Indian politics?
hardAnswer: Factors such as internal dissent, emergence of charismatic opposition leaders, evolving public expectations, and changing socio-economic conditions contributed to the decline of Congress's dominance.
How did Congress's approach to governance reflect its ideological coalition?
mediumAnswer: Congress's governance style was marked by pragmatism, addressing diverse socio-economic needs and integrating various interest groups into its development agenda to maintain electoral support.