Politics

India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, directly and indirectly laid the foundation for an effective parliamentary democracy, a vigorous free press, and a volatile and articulate public opinion in his country. However, he failed to instill an adequate appreciation of the necessity for a strong opposition political party.

During a significant portion of its postindependence history, India was governed by a single party, the Congress (originally called Indian National Congress), which had guided it through the freedom struggle and was led by one family represented by Nehru (prime minister from 1947 to 1964). His daughter Indira Gandhi ruled India as prime minister from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 to 1984. Nehru's grandson, Rajiv Gandhi led India between 1984 and 1989.

A splintered opposition made up of several parties became the norm in Indian politics. As the supremacy and popularity of Congress declined because of corruption scandals, continuing poverty in certain segments of the voting public, and disaffection among minorities, the only alternative was government by coalition. A kaleidoscopic pattern of political groups formed and dissolved in an attempt to weaken the grip of Congress and gain control of India's parliament.

Indira Gandhi's declaration of a state of emergency in 1975 led to the suspension of some civil and political rights, the arrest of

Thousands of opponents of her regime, the imposition of press censorship, and the removal from office of some provincial governments. As suddenly as it had been proclaimed, the state of emergency was officially terminated in 1977 with a call for elections.