Praja Socialist Party
Also called: PSP · Topic: Era of One-Party Dominance: First Elections and the Congress System · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 2 "Era of One-Party Dominance"; Class 12, Ch 5 "Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System"
Meaning
The Praja Socialist Party (PSP) was formed in 1952 by merging two parties: the Socialist Party and the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP), which J.B. Kripalani had started in 1951. The PSP stood for democratic socialism. It was linked to Asoka Mehta, who wanted limited cooperation with the Congress, especially after the Congress adopted the 'socialist pattern of society' in 1955.
Example
In the exam exercise that matches leaders to parties, Asoka Mehta goes with the PSP. The PSP is one step in the long chain of socialist splits and mergers that later led to parties such as the SP, RJD, JD(U) and JD(S).
Don't confuse with
- Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP, 1964): led by Ram Manohar Lohia, who moved further away from the Congress and took a strongly anti-Congress line. The PSP favoured limited cooperation with the Congress.