Congress split of 1969
Topic: Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 5 "Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System"; Class 12, Ch 6 "The Crisis of Democratic Order"
Meaning
The Congress split of 1969 was the division of the party into two in November 1969. It grew out of the fight between Indira Gandhi and the Syndicate over bank nationalisation, privy purses and the 1969 presidential election. She presented the split as socialists against conservatives. After the split her government lost its majority and survived with support from the CPI and the DMK.
Example
On 11 November 1969, Congress president S. Nijalingappa expelled her and wrote of her "political narcissism". This left two parties. The Syndicate led the Congress (Organisation), or "Old Congress". She led the Congress (Requisitionists), or "New Congress".
Don't confuse with
- Presidential election of 1969: this August contest deepened the conflict. The formal split came later, with the November expulsion.