Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Political Science

Chapter

Politics in India Since Independence: Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System

Question:

Which statement is incorrect in relation to the Congress Party in 1969?

Options:

The split within the Congress party became evident during the Presidential elections.

S. Nijalingappa issued a 'whip' to Congress MPs and MLAs to vote in favor of Sanjeeva Reddy.

The Prime Minister openly supported Sanjeeva Reddy in the Presidential elections.

The victory in the Presidential elections led to the formalization of the split within the party.

Correct Answer:

The Prime Minister openly supported Sanjeeva Reddy in the Presidential elections.

Explanation:

The Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi silently supported V.V. Giri in the Presidential elections.

The split within the party was definitively affirmed with the defeat of the official Congress candidate. Following this, the Congress President took the step of expelling the Prime Minister from the party, asserting that her faction constituted the genuine Congress. By November 1969, the Congress group aligned with the 'syndicate' acquired the label Congress (Organisation), while the faction led by Indira Gandhi became recognized as the Congress (Requisitionists). These two factions also became colloquially known as the Old Congress and the New Congress. Indira Gandhi framed this division as an ideological contrast, emphasizing the schism between socialists and conservatives, and between those advocating for the underprivileged and those aligning with the affluent.