Samyukta Socialist Party
Also called: SSP · 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"; Class 12, Ch 8 "Recent Developments in Indian Politics"
Meaning
The Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP) was a socialist party formed in 1964 under Ram Manohar Lohia. It was strongly anti-Congress and supported reservation for backward castes. It came from Lohia's view that socialists should move further away from the Congress instead of cooperating with it.
Example
The SSP is one link in the chain of socialist splits and mergers: Socialist Party (1948), then PSP (1952), then SSP (1964). Parties such as the SP, RJD, JD(U) and JD(S) trace their roots to this socialist tradition.
Don't confuse with
- Praja Socialist Party (PSP, 1952): linked to Asoka Mehta, who wanted limited cooperation with the Congress. The SSP followed Lohia's anti-Congress line.