India - Political Developments

Party Prime Minister

1947 1964 Congress Jawaharlal Nehru

1964 1966 Congress Lal Bahadur Shastri

1966 1977 Congress Indira Gandhi

1977 1979 Janata Morarji Desai

1979 1980 Janata Charan Singh

1980 1984 Congress Indira Gandhi

1984 1989 Congress Rajiv Gandhi

1989 1990 Janata Dal V.P. Singh

1990 1991 Janata Dal Chandra Shekhar

1991 1996 Congress P.V. Narasimha Rao

1996 1996 Bharatiya Janata Atal Bihari Vajpayee

1996 1997 Janata Dal H.D. Deve Gowda

1996 1997 Janata Dal Inder Kumar Gujral

1997 2004 Bharatiya Janata Atal Bihari Vajpayee

2004 Congress Manmohan Singh

After independence, the Indian National Congress, the party of Mohandas K. Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru,
ruled India under the leadership first of Nehru and then his daughter (Indira Gandhi) and grandson (Rajiv
Gandhi), with the exception of brief periods in the 1970s and 1980s, during a short period in 1996, and the
period from 1998-2004, when a coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party governed.

Prime Minister Nehru governed the nation until his death in 1964. Nehru was succeeded by Lal Bahadur
Shastri, who also died in office. In 1966, power passed to Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister
from 1966 to 1977. In 1975, beset with deepening political and economic problems, Mrs. Gandhi declared a
state of emergency and suspended many civil liberties. Seeking a mandate at the polls for her policies, she
called for elections in 1977, only to be defeated by Morarji Desai, who headed the Janata Party, an
amalgam of five opposition parties.

In 1979, Desai's Government crumbled. Charan Singh formed an interim government, which was followed
by Mrs. Gandhi's return to power in January 1980. On October 31, 1984, Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated,
and her son, Rajiv, was chosen by the Congress (I)--for "Indira"--Party to take her place. His Congress
government was plagued with allegations of corruption resulting in an early call for national elections in
1989.

Although Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress Party won more seats than any other single party in the 1989 elections,
he was unable to form a government with a clear majority. The Janata Dal, a union of opposition parties,
then joined with the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the right and the Communists on the
left to form the government. This loose coalition collapsed in November 1990, and the Janata Dal, supported
by the Congress (I), came to power for a short period, with Chandra Shekhar as Prime Minister. That
alliance also collapsed, resulting in national elections in June 1991.

While campaigning in Tamil Nadu on behalf of Congress (I), Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 27,
1991, apparently by Tamil extremists from Sri Lanka, unhappy with India’s armed intervention to try to stop
the civil war there. In the elections, Congress (I) won 213 parliamentary seats and returned to power at the
head of a coalition, under the leadership of P.V. Narasimha Rao. This Congress-led government, which
served a full 5-year term, initiated a gradual process of economic liberalization and reform, which opened
the Indian economy to global trade and investment. India's domestic politics also took new shape, as the
nationalist appeal of the Congress Party gave way to traditional caste, creed, and ethnic alignments, leading
to the founding of a plethora of small, regionally based political parties.

The final months of the Rao-led government in the spring of 1996 were marred by several major corruption
scandals, which contributed to the worst electoral performance by the Congress Party in its history. The
Hindu-nationalist BJP emerged from the May 1996 national elections as the single-largest party in the Lok
Sabha but without a parliamentary majority. Under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the subsequent BJP
coalition lasted only 13 days. With all political parties wishing to avoid another round of elections, a 14-party
coalition led by the Janata Dal formed a government known as the United Front, under the former Chief
Minister of Karnataka, H.D. Deve Gowda. His government collapsed after less than a year, when the
Congress Party withdrew its support in March 1997. Inder Kumar Gujral replaced Deve Gowda as the
consensus choice for Prime Minister at the head of a 16-party United Front coalition.
 Leaders
India is a land of great political leaders who ruled the country effectively and also
by protecting its national interest. It was not an easy task to accomplish, keeping in view the changes taking
place in the world political scenario. Leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira
Gandhi Bose played an indispensable role in changing the perspective of world towards India. The manner,
in which issues like border disputes, Kashmir and growing shortage of food grains were handled, they really
deserve an honor. The far-sightedness and pragmatic characteristics of the leaders can be assumed from
the fact that they framed the Constitution of India by inducting the best possible clauses of the world. They
led the country from the front, without being showing any inclination to either of the power blocs. To know
more about the political leaders of India, read the brief biography of the Indian political leaders.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a social reformer and freedom fighter. He was one of the prime architects of
modern India and strongest advocates of Swaraj (Self Rule). He was universally recognized as the "Father
of Indian Movement".

Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh was among the prominent revolutionaries who shaped the base of a grand national
movement. Following his execution, on March 23, 1931, the supporters and followers of Bhagat Singh
regarded him as a "Shaheed", "martyr".

Chandrasekhar Azad
A contemporary of Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad was a born firebrand revolutionary. He engaged in a
heroic battle against the British. His role was crucial in inspiring the others of his generation to participate in
the national movement for freedom.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the pioneers of the Indian Independence Movement. Gokhale was a
senior leader of the Indian National Congress. He was one of the most learned men in the country, a leader
of social and political reformists and one of the earliest and founding leaders of the Indian Independence
Movement.

Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was, undoubtedly, one of the greatest political leaders of India. She was the first and only
woman to be elected as the Prime Minister. She is also regarded as the most controversial political leader of
the country for her unprecedented decision of imposing "a state of emergency".

Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was a member the Congress Party
that led the freedom movement against British Empire. Nehru was one of the architects who had the
opportunity to steer the newly freed-nation. He was also the chief framer of domestic and international
policies between 1947 and 1964.

Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala Lajpat Rai immensely contributed in attaining independence the nation. He helped in establishing few
schools in the country. He also initiated the foundation of Punjab National Bank. In 1897, he founded the
Hindu Orphan Relief Movement to keep the Christian missions from securing custody of these children.

Lal Bahadur Shastri

He devoted his life for the pride and honor of the country. Shastri was regarded as man of principles. Lal
 Bahadur Shastri offered his resignation as Union Railway Minister; hours after he was
made aware of a train accident that killed around 150 people.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a renowned journalist of his time. Disturbed by his provocative articles, the
British Government decided to deport him off Calcutta. Despite of his house-arrest and imprisonment,
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad continued to write against the anti-people policies of the British Government.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a freedom fighter of India. He was the founder of the Indian National
Army. During pre-independence period Netaji had visited London to discuss the future of India, with the
members of the Labor party.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Rajendra Prasad was a great leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement and also one of the architects of the
Indian Constitution. He was elected as the first President of Republic of India. Rajendra Prasad was a
crucial leader of the Indian Independence Movement, who left his lucrative profession to participate in the
nationalist movement of India.

Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi was one of the popular Prime Ministers of India. The developmental projects launched by him
include the national education policy and expansion of telecom sector. Besides his achievement and
subsequent popularity, Rajiv Gandhi also emerged as one of India's controversial Prime Ministers.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the great social leaders of India. He played a crucial role during the freedom
struggle of India and was instrumental in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union.
Despite the choice of the people, on the request of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel stepped down from the
candidacy of Congress president.

Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu was truly one of the gems of the 20th century India. She was known by the sobriquet "The
Nightingale of India". Her contribution was not confined to the fields of politics only but she was also a
renowned poet. The play "Maher Muneer", written by Naidu at an early age, fetched a scholarship to study
abroad.

Joining a political party is very easy as there are so many parties and each of them
need more are more Indian Youth ,youngsters and active participants. but the
challenge is whether our patriotic feelings and our aspirations for the society can be
implemented by means of that party or not? I doubt if our dreams of a anti-corrupt,
developed and glorious India would be ever realized by our joining in politics. We
would be liable to follow as per the instructions of party heads and their decisions.
We can't be sure how far they would compliment our feelings and thoughts.

The criteria for a person to become a politician is that he/she should have particular
age and should be an Indian but along with that he should be aware of things
happening around him/her and should be educated.
Educated people