The Janata Party (People's Party in Hindi) was an Indian political party that contested the Indian Emergency (1975-77) and became the first political party to defeat the Indian National Congress in the 1977 elections, forming the national government from 1977 to 1980. Hindi (हिन्दी hindī) is an Indo-European language spoken mainly in North, Central India and Western India. ... A political party is a political organization that subscribes to a certain ideology and seeks to attain political power within a government. ... The Emergency was a period of Indian history when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency and effectively ruled by decree for nineteen months in 1975-1977. ... Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party, abbreviated INC) is a major political party in India. ...

Background

The 1974 Court Conviction

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had led her Indian National Congress to a landslide majority in the Parliament of India in the 1971 elections, and after the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, her popularity was meteoric. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party, abbreviated INC) is a major political party in India. ... The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is bicameral. ... The Bangladesh Liberation War (two other names are also used occasionally) refers to an armed conflict between West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) that lasted for roughly nine months in 1971. ...

However accusations of authoritarianism, nepotism and corruption soon emerged, causing strikes and protests across the country. Former freedom fighter Jaya Prakash Narayan alleged that Indira was destroying India's democracy and economy. Unhappiness over slow economic progress, inflation and bureaucratic stagnation intensified public discontent. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Jayaprakash Narayan. ...

In 1974, the Allahabad High Court ruled in a case that the Prime Minister had wrongfully used government machinery in her election campaign in 1971. Thus convicted, opposition parties of across the spectrum called for her immediate resignation, which Indira refused. Map of India. ...

J.P. Narayan and his allies organized major protests and strikes across the country, which adversely affected government and the economy. Trade, students and government unions striked, and a large public crowd surrounded the Parliament building and the PM's residence. Narayan received open support from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Indian National Congress (Organisation). Veteran Congressmen began leaving the party. Bharatiya Jana Sangh is the old name of Bharatiya Janata Party of India. ... The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a Hindu nationalist organization which bases itself on the principles of Hindutva. ... The Indian National Congress (Organisation) was a political party in India formed when Indira Gandhi (then the Congress president) broke away from the party leadership. ...

Indian Emergency

Prime Minister Gandhi convinced the President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to declare emergency under the Constitution. Using sweeping powers it gave, the police arrested thousands of protestors, including Narayan and his allies. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (May 13, 1905 - February 11, 1977) was President of India of 1974 to 1977. ...

Although for nearly 2 years India was peaceful and progressive, there was widespread unhappiness with the decision to impose rule by decree. Although it gave India relief from chronic strikes and demonstrations that paralyzed the economy and created unnecessary disorder, hundreds of thousands of people across the country were allegedly arrested without cause and detained for substantial periods without notification to family of their whereabouts. Police abuse, torture and corruption were alleged, and thousands of political prisoners were taken. State media and private publications became mouthpieces for Congress propaganda.

The satyagraha-style protest and arrest of thousands of people evoked sympathy from a population that remembered the sacrifices made during the Indian independence movement. Gradually the lack of democracy and fear of arbitrary arrest and abuse made the Indira administration very unpopular. Unaccountable to the people, the administration began suffering from corruption, which increased disenchantment. Satyagraha is the philosophy of nonviolent resistance most famously employed by Mohandas Gandhi in forcing an end to the British Raj and also against apartheid in South Africa. ... -1...

Formation and Election Victory

When Indira Gandhi called elections in 1977, virtually all opposition parties banded together to form the Janata Party, which became a rainbow coalition of diverse political groups. The major ones included the Bharatiya Lok Dal led by Charan Singh, the Congress (0) led by Morarji Desai, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Swatantra Party and the Socialists. An Indira loyalist, Jagjivan Ram deserted her and formed the Congress for Democracy, joining the Janata alliance. The broad spectrum of leaders united under Jaya Prakash Narayan. Bharatiya Lok Dal (Indian Peoples Party), was a political party in India. ... Charan Singh could mean Choudhary Charan Singh, the former prime minister of India or Charan Singh (guru), the late Charan Singh of Radhasoami Satsang Beas. ... Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (मोरारजी देसाई) (February 29, 1896 – April 10, 1995) was an Indian freedom fighter and the first non-Congress Party Prime Minister of India. ... Bharatiya Jana Sangh is the old name of Bharatiya Janata Party of India. ... Atal Bihari Vajpayee (अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी in Devanagari) (born December 25, 1924) was the Prime Minister of India in 1996 and again from October 13, 1998 until May 19, 2004. ... Swatantra Party (swatantra in Hindi means independence) was a political party in India founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in 1959. ... Jagjivan Ram (5 April 1908 - 6 July 1986), known popularly as Babuji was a freedom fighter and a social reformer hailing from the backward classes of Bihar in India. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Jayaprakash Narayan. ...

Although Indira Gandhi had thought that the economic progress and order achieved under Emergency had been popular, the Janata capitalized on public discontent with the lack of free expression and government accountability, the arrest and detentions of large numbers of innocent people as well as charges of gross abuse, corruption and harassment on police and government authorities. Indira's son Sanjay Gandhi and Indira herself were accused of political corruption and abuse of authority. Sanjay Gandhi (December 14, 1946 - June 23, 1980) was an Indian politician; he was the younger son of Feroze Gandhi and his wife Indira Gandhi. ...

The Congress for Democracy and BLD emerged with the largest number of seats, and with the outside support of the Communists, Janata held control of 359 seats in the Lok Sabha. Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house of Parliament of India. ...

Narayan was asked to select one of three major leaders to become the Prime Minister of India. Narayan selected former freedom fighter and veteran Morarji Desai; Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram would become his Deputy Prime Ministers. The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (मोरारजी देसाई) (February 29, 1896 – April 10, 1995) was an Indian freedom fighter and the first non-Congress Party Prime Minister of India. ...

Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Minister for External Affairs; H.M. Patel became the Finance Minister, and Lal Krishna Advani became the Minister for Information and Broadcasting. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी in Devanagari) (born December 25, 1924) was the Prime Minister of India in 1996 and again from October 13, 1998 until May 19, 2004. ... Haribhai Patel was an Indian civil servant who played a major role in the issues regarding internal and national security in the first years after the independence of India. ... Lal Krishna Advani Lal Krishna Advani (Devanagari: लाल कृष्ण आड़वाणी) also known as Lal Kishenchand Advani (born November 8, 1927/1929, Karachi, Pakistan) was the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until year-end 2005 and is Leader of the Opposition in the 14th Lok Sabha. ...

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, a Janata leader was elected the President of India in 1977 upon the death of the incumbent Fakhruddin Ahmed. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (May 18, 1913 - June 1, 1996 ) was the sixth President of the republic of India from 1977 to 1982. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Desai administration (1977-79)

The Desai administration re-established diplomatic relations with China, and improved bilateral relations with Pakistan, as well as defending India's nuclear policy on the world stage. It also set up tribunals to investigate Emergency-era abuses and prosecute the guilty.

But with the poor health of J.P. Narayan, Janata lost its unity. Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram wrangled for Desai's job, and the public prosecutions of Indira were backfiring because of lack of evidence and public sympathy for the latter, who was seen as a defenseless woman being attacked by powerful lawmakers. Fractious political bickering prevented the making of any effective policy, and the people began to criticize the Government for its impotence in face of major national problems of poverty, illiteracy and economic stagnation.

Socialists led by Madhu limaye took strong stand on the issue of duel membership of Janata party and RSS which eventually led to split in Janata Party. In 1979, A.B. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani resigned from their posts when the RSS and BJS withdrew support from Janata; in June, Prime Minister Desai resigned as Charan Singh threatened to lead BLD out of the coalition.

Charan Singh administration (1979-80)

Retaining enough coalition partners, Charan Singh was sworn in as the new Prime Minister in June, as leader of the BLD and the new Janata (Socialist). But he required the support of the Congress Party of Indira Gandhi, which just months ago had been his greatest rival to form a parliamentary majority. Jagjivan Ram had returned to the Congress. Jagjivan Ram (5 April 1908 - 6 July 1986), known popularly as Babuji was a freedom fighter and a social reformer hailing from the backward classes of Bihar in India. ...

Gandhi initially promised to back Charan Singh, but later declined. Charan Singh gave up his frantic efforts to form a government, and President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy called fresh elections in January 1980. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (May 18, 1913 - June 1, 1996 ) was the sixth President of the republic of India from 1977 to 1982. ...

Dissolution

The Congress party won a massive majority after campaigning aganist the chaos and corruption of the Janata years, epitomized with the slogan: "Elect a Government That Works."

In the elections of 1989, Rajiv Gandhi's Congress party was defeated under similar circumstances, and the Janata Dal coalition led by V.P. Singh took power with a fragile majority. It barely survived till 1991. Rajiv Gandhi (राजीव गान्धी) (August 20, 1944 – May 21, 1991), the first son of Indira and Feroze Gandhi, was the Prime Minister of India from his mothers death on October 31, 1984 until his resignation on December 2, 1989 following a general election defeat. ... Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger one of the major Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal and a group of Congressmen led by V.P. Singh. ... Vishwanath Pratap Singh (born 25 June 1931) was the seventh Prime Minister of the Republic of India. ...

Legacy

The Janata is remembered for leading a popular revolution against an authoritarian government, and for preventing the erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms in India. It is fondly remembered by politicians of political parties opposing the Indian National Congress, which is even today led by the Nehru-Gandhi family. Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party, abbreviated INC) is a major political party in India. ... Jawaharlal Nehru, with his daughter Indira Gandhi and grandson Rajiv Gandhi The Nehru-Gandhi (नेहरू-गान्धी परिवार) family is a political dynasty in India, which has been dominant in the Indian National Congress for much of Indias independent history. ...

But the Janata is also criticized in the same vein by many for its disorder, corruption and ineffectivity in solving any of the country's problems. It provided important lessons for India's political system when the Coalition Age began with the 1996 elections.

Modern Relation

Those members who had formerly been members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and another group formed the Janata Dal. Morarji Desai retired from politics, and Charan Singh was reduced to a regional figure. Bharatiya Jana Sangh is the old name of Bharatiya Janata Party of India. ... The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), literally meaning Indian Peoples Party, created in 1980, is today one of the largest national political parties in India. ... Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger one of the major Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal and a group of Congressmen led by V.P. Singh. ...

During the 1980's there were several groups calling themselves Janata Party. Today there is one group led by liquor baron Vijay Mallya and Dr. Subramanian Swamy claiming the name of JP. Dr. Vijay Mallya is a successful businessman and member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha since 2002) from India. ... Dr. Subramanian Swamy (b. ...

External link

• Party website