Question

What changes took place in Indian Politics after the emergency? Discuss.

Hint:

Think of the post-Emergency phase as the "Second Democratic Upsurge" in India. It broadened the base of political participation and ended the hegemony of a single party, leading to a more complex and representative political landscape.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to discuss the significant and long-lasting transformations in the landscape of Indian politics following the end of the National Emergency in 1977. This period is often seen as a major turning point.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The end of the Emergency and the 1977 general election triggered several profound changes in Indian politics:


End of the 'Congress System': The 1977 election resulted in a historic defeat for the Congress Party, the first time it had lost power at the national level since independence. This marked the definitive end of the era of one-party dominance and ushered in a more competitive, multi-party democratic system.

Beginning of the Coalition Era: The Janata Party, which came to power in 1977, was a broad coalition of diverse political groups united by their opposition to the Emergency. Although this government was short-lived, it was the first successful coalition experiment at the centre. This set a precedent, and from 1989 onwards, coalition governments became a regular feature of Indian politics for many years.

Increased Focus on Civil Liberties: The harsh experience of the Emergency, with its suspension of Fundamental Rights, made the protection of civil liberties a central issue in Indian politics. The public became more vigilant, and the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, became more assertive in safeguarding citizens' rights, leading to the rise of Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

Rise of Backward Caste Politics: The Janata government appointed the Mandal Commission to address the issue of reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). When the commission's recommendations for 27% reservation for OBCs were implemented in 1990, it led to a major political realignment known as 'Mandal politics'. This empowered the OBCs as a major political force and led to the emergence of powerful caste-based parties.

Strengthening of Regional Parties: The decline of the national dominance of the Congress party created political space for regional parties to grow. These parties, representing regional and linguistic aspirations, became increasingly influential and started playing a key role as kingmakers in forming coalition governments at the national level.

These shifts collectively made Indian politics more fragmented, more representative of social diversity, and more decentralized.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The post-Emergency period transformed Indian politics by ending Congress's dominance, initiating an era of coalition governments, strengthening the commitment to civil rights, and empowering backward castes and regional parties, thus making the political system more competitive and diverse.