1967 General Elections and the Split in Congress, 1969

Question 1

Why was there disenchantment with the leaders of the Congress during the 1967 election?

Answer 1

Corruption, exhausted mandate of the Congress party, loss of its motivation as a party of social and institutional change

Question 2

The main question raised by Opposition parties during their campaign in the 1967 election was that of defeating Congress- True or False?

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The distribution of tickets to party members of the Congress for the 1967 election was a reflection of _____ in the party.

Answer 3

Factionalism

Question 4

Coming together of Opposition parties was not affected by the ideological disparity among them- True or False?

Answer 4

True

Question 5

The CPM, Muslim League, Swatantra and DMK were partners in ______.

Answer 5

Tamil Nadu

Question 6

CPM, Jan Sangh and Akalis were allies in ______.

Answer 6

Punjab

Question 7

CPM and Muslim League were allies in ______.

Answer 7

Kerala

Question 8

Congress had its majority drastically reduced by 80 seats in the _____.

Answer 8

Lok Sabha

Question 9

In the assemblies of how many states did Congress lose its majority?

Answer 9

Eight

Question 10

The Jan Sangh emerged as the main Opposition party in which states?

Answer 10

UP, MP and Haryana

Question 11

Swatantra emerged as the main Opposition party in which states?

Answer 11

Orissa, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat

Question 12

SSP emerged as the main Opposition party in which state?

Answer 12

Bihar

Question 13

The Communists emerged as the main Opposition party in which states?

Answer 13

Kerala and West Bengal

Question 14

Which section of society defected from the Congress camp in the northern states?

Answer 14

Rich and middle class peasants

Question 15

Rich peasants did not want to play a hegemonic role in class alliances and affect government policies- True or False?

Answer 15

False

Question 16

Why did the defection of rich peasant classes from the Congress camp not occur in the south?

Answer 16

Alternative rich peasant parties were non-existent; class structure was different to that in the north

Question 17

Name some alternative rich peasant parties that were present in the north.

Answer 17

SSP, Bharatiya Kranti Dal and the Akali Dal

Question 18

The _____ controlled rural vote banks to some extent.

Answer 18

rich peasants

Question 19

In February 1969, mid-term elections were held in ______ states.

Answer 19

four

Question 20

US aid had shrunk in 1968 to ____ of what it was in 1964-65

Answer 20

half

Question 21

There was a growing tendency among the discontented to take up extra-constitutional violent means. An example of this is the ______.

Answer 21

Naxal movement

Question 22

What was the form of industrial action where workers besieged the factory managers in their offices until their demands were met?

Answer 22

Gherao

Question 23

The Syndicate asserted that the ______ should formulate policies whose implementation the government would be held accountable for.

Answer 23

Working Committee

Question 24

Who succeeded K Kamaraj as party president of the Congress?

Answer 24

S. Nijalingappa

Question 25

Indira Gandhi was willing to compromise the supreme power and position of the prime minister and government over policies and administration- True or False?

Answer 25

False

Question 26

When did the Congress Working Committee adopt the Ten Point Programme?

Answer 26

May 1967

Question 27

Morarji Desai, Nijalingappa and other members of the Syndicate wanted to (strengthen/weaken) India’s political and economic relations with the West.

Answer 27

strengthen

Question 28

The Congress left wanted to neutralise working class militancy via ______.

Answer 28

Economic concessions

Question 29

The “Young Turks” favoured cooperation with which parties?

Answer 29

Communist and other left wing parties

Question 30

Which president’s death in 1969 precipitated the events leading to the split in Congress?

Answer 30

Zakir Hussain

Question 31

The Congress parliamentary board appointed whom as the Congress candidate for presidentship? When was this decision taken?

Answer 31

Sanjiva Reddy; Bangalore party conclave, 11th-13th July 1969

Question 32

On 18th July 1969, Indira Gandhi took away the _____ portfolio from Morarji Desai.

Answer 32

finance

Question 33

On 21st July 1969, Indira Gandhi nationalised _____ banks through a Presidential ordinance.

Answer 33

fourteen

Question 34

Who was the candidate fielded by Swatantra and the Jan Sangh?

Answer 34

C D Deshmukh

Question 35

Which candidate did Indira Gandhi want to support?

Answer 35

VV Giri

Question 36

What did Nijalingappa do that allowed Indira Gandhi to support Giri?

Answer 36

Persuaded the Jan Sangh and Swatantra to cast their second-preference votes for Sanjiva Reddy

Question 37

Who was finally elected as President and when?

Answer 37

VV Giri, 20th August 1969

Question 38

When did the Syndicate expel Indira Gandhi from the Congress for having violated party discipline?

Answer 38

12th November, 1969

Question 39

What were the two factions of the Congress called?

Answer 39

Congress (Organisation) and Congress (Requisitionists)

Question 40

Congress(O) occupied what position on the political spectrum?

Answer 40

Right-of-centre

Question 41

Which party won control over several states in the Hindi belt in the 1967 election?

Answer 41

Samyukta Vidhyak Dal

Question 42

Before the split in Congress, which two Syndicate members were re-elected to Parliament in by-elections?

Answer 42

Kamaraj and S.K Patil