In the 1977 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress swept through the Southern states because-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → The impact of Emergency was not felt equally in all the states.
Option (1) South India experienced long term changes in the nature of political competition. — Incorrect. It was north India that had experienced these long-term changes.
Option (2) The middle castes from the North moved closer to the Congress. — Incorrect. The middle castes of north India were moving away from the Congress, towards the Janata Party.
Option (3) The forced sterilizations were mostly concentrated in the Southern States. — Incorrect. They were mostly concentrated in the northern States.
Option (4) The impact of Emergency was not felt equally in all the states. — Correct. The Congress virtually swept through the southern States because, to begin with, the impact of the Emergency was not felt equally in all the States: the forced displacements and sterilisations were mostly in the north.
NCERT (2025-26): “Lok Sabha Elections, 1977 … But if you look at the map showing the result of this election, you will notice that Congress did not lose elections all over the country. It retained many seats in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Orissa and virtually swept through the southern States. There are many reasons for this. To begin with, the impact of Emergency was not felt equally in all the States. The forced relocation and displacements, the forced sterilisations, were mostly concentrated in the northern States. But more importantly, north India had experienced some long term changes in the nature of political competition. The middle castes from north India were beginning to move away from the Congress and the Janata party became a platform for many of these sections to come together.…” |