In the 1970s how did the new Congress party's handling of opinions and interests differ from the past?

 It lacked the capacity to accommodate various opinions and interests.

After the 1971 elections, what Indira Gandhi achieved wasn't merely a revival of the traditional Congress party. In numerous ways, she breathed new life into the party, effectively reinventing it. While the party's popularity seemed reminiscent of its past position, it now took on a distinct character. Its foundation rested predominantly on the charisma of its supreme leader, but its organizational structure appeared somewhat fragile.

This redefined Congress party wasn't marked by the presence of numerous factions as before, which restricted its ability to accommodate a wide array of opinions and interests. Although it triumphed in elections, its reliance leaned more heavily on specific social groups: the underprivileged, women, Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities. A novel incarnation of the Congress had come into being—a Congress that diverged from its prior form. Thus, by altering the very essence of the Congress system, Indira Gandhi revived it.

Despite its enhanced popularity, the transformed Congress lacked the capacity to absorb the diverse tensions and conflicts that the traditional Congress system was known to handle. Even as the Congress solidified its stance and Indira Gandhi ascended to unparalleled political authority, the spaces for the democratic expression of people's aspirations seemed to dwindle.