Challenges to the Congress System — Part 1: Succession and the 1967 Shock: visual lesson, CBSE Class 12 Political Science

Lesson

Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System

Part 1 — who after Nehru? and the political earthquake of 1967.

In this lesson you will

Part 1 at a glance

Concept

Many observers expected the end of democracy after the founding leader. It did not happen.

Table comparing fears in 1964 with what happened: fears of army or one-person rule, of no possible successor, and of a party split, against peaceful choices by MPs, two smooth successions and a united party until 1969
Fear in 1964	What actually happened
Many new nations fell to army or one-person rule after their founders	Leaders were chosen inside the ruling party and approved by MPs
No one could fill the place of a leader in office since 1947	Two successions in under two years, both peaceful
A long fight could divide the party	The party stayed united until 1969

Concept

The Congress president K. Kamaraj consulted leaders and MPs; Lal Bahadur Shastri was chosen without a contest.

The 1964 succession