India Towards Anarchy - 1967-1992

Politicking became the rule after 1967 due to two historic events. First, was the disastrous failure of the Indian army when China attacked India in October 1962. This shook the faith of the common man, in the north and even more so in the east, in the unquestioned wisdom of the Congress leadership. The second historic event was partly a consequence of the first. This was the 1967 general election which, for the first time, broke the Congress monopoly of power. In nine states out of seventeen, coalition governments of the parties which were previously in the opposition were installed into power. These included the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, with about 60 per cent of India's population. But the power at the Centre was still with the Congress, headed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Henceforth both the Congress and the opposition parties had just one objective, namely, to install or keep themselves in power by getting maximum electoral support. All sound principles of law and order were abandoned.