The chapter "Era of One-Party Dominance - Politics in India Since Independence" provides an insightful exploration into the political landscape of India post-independence, focusing on the dominance of the Indian National Congress (INC) and the emergence of opposition parties. It highlights the electoral processes, the nature of Congress dominance, and the dynamics within and outside the party.
Introduction to CBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter "Era of One-Party Dominance - Politics in India Since Independence"
The chapter “Era of One-Party Dominance – Politics in India Since Independence” in CBSE Class 12 Political Science discusses the challenges of building democracy, the evolution of electoral methods, the first general elections, the nature of Congress dominance, the emergence of opposition parties, and the internal dynamics of the Congress party.
Challenge of Building Democracy:
- The Election Commission of India was established in January 1950, with Sukumar Sen as the first Chief Election Commissioner.
- The 1952 general elections were successfully held despite challenges like India’s vast size and low literacy rate.
Changing Methods of Voting:
- Initially, each polling booth had separate boxes for each candidate.
- By 2004, the entire country had shifted to using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
First Three General Elections:
- The Congress party dominated the first three general elections due to its popular leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, and Vallabhbhai Patel.
- Congress’s grassroots level work and participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement contributed to its popularity.
- In 1957, Kerala became the first state where the Communist Party came to power through democratic elections, marking the first non-Congress government since independence.
Nature of Congress Dominance:
- Congress’s dominance was democratic, rooted in the legacy of the freedom struggle.
- The party represented a diverse coalition of classes, castes, religions, and languages, giving it unusual strength.
Tolerance and Management of Factions:
- Congress tolerated and encouraged various factions, often based on ideological considerations, personal ambitions, or rivalries.
Emergence of Opposition Parties:
- The roots of many contemporary non-Congress parties trace back to the opposition parties of the 1950s.
- These parties provided sustained and principled criticism of Congress policies, keeping the ruling party in check.
Socialist Party:
- Formed in 1934 within Congress, the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) separated in 1948 to become the Socialist Party, criticizing Congress for favoring capitalists and landlords.
The Communist Party of India (CPI):
- Emerged in the 1920s, inspired by the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.
- Abandoned violent revolution in 1951 to participate in general elections, with notable leaders like AK Gopalan and EMS Namboodiripad.
Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS):
- Formed in 1951 by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, advocating for one country, one culture, and one nation.
Swatantra Party:
- Formed in 1959, led by C. Rajagopalachari, KM Munshi, and others, critical of state intervention in the economy and favoring a free private sector.
Assignments for CBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter “Era of One-Party Dominance – Politics in India Since Independence”
- Case Study Analysis: Examine the role of the Election Commission of India in conducting the first general elections. Discuss the challenges and successes.
- Research Project: Investigate the emergence of opposition parties in the 1950s and their impact on the political landscape of India.
- Debate Preparation: Prepare for a debate on whether the dominance of the Congress party was beneficial or detrimental to Indian democracy.
- Chart Creation: Create a timeline of the first three general elections in India, highlighting key events and outcomes.
- Role Play: Conduct a mock election campaign where students represent different political parties from the 1950s, discussing their ideologies and policies.
Conclusion
The chapter “Era of One-Party Dominance – Politics in India Since Independence” in CBSE Class 12 Political Science provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the political dynamics in India post-independence. It highlights the factors contributing to Congress’s dominance, the emergence of opposition parties, and the evolution of India’s democratic processes. This knowledge equips students to critically analyze the development of Indian politics and the role of various political entities.
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Questions and Answers for CBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter "Era of One-Party Dominance - Politics in India Since Independence"
Q1: What were the main challenges faced by the Election Commission of India in conducting the first general elections?
ANS: The main challenges included India’s vast size, low literacy rate, and the need to establish electoral constituencies and prepare an electoral roll of eligible voters.
Q2: How did the Congress party manage to dominate the first three general elections?
ANS: Congress’s dominance was due to its association with the freedom struggle, popular leaders, grassroots-level work, and its broad coalition representing diverse social groups.
Q3: What role did factions play within the Congress party?
ANS: Factions within Congress, often based on ideological considerations or personal ambitions, were tolerated and encouraged, contributing to the party’s broad coalition nature.
Q4: How did the Communist Party of India (CPI) change its approach in 1951?
ANS: The CPI abandoned the path of violent revolution and decided to participate in general elections, becoming a notable political force.
Q5: What was the ideology of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS)?
ANS: The BJS advocated for one country, one culture, and one nation, emphasizing Indian culture and traditions as the basis for a modern, progressive, and strong India.
Q6: Why was the Swatantra Party critical of Congress’s economic policies?
ANS: The Swatantra Party opposed state intervention in the economy, centralised planning, and nationalization, advocating for a free private sector and closer relations with the USA.
Q7: How did the emergence of opposition parties impact Indian democracy?
ANS: Opposition parties provided principled criticism of Congress policies, kept the ruling party in check, and contributed to a vibrant democratic process.
Q8: What were the contributions of the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) before it became the Socialist Party?
ANS: The CSP, formed within Congress in 1934, pushed for more radical and egalitarian policies and later criticized Congress for favoring capitalists and landlords after forming the Socialist Party in 1948.
Q9: Describe the transition to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India’s electoral process.
ANS: India transitioned from using separate ballot boxes for each candidate to using EVMs by 2004, streamlining the voting process and improving efficiency and accuracy.
Q10: How did the Congress party maintain its broad coalition character?
ANS: Congress brought together diverse groups representing India’s classes, castes, religions, and languages, accommodating different beliefs and interests within its coalition.
