NEW DELHI: The Nehru Gandhi dynasty suffered a humiliating defeat in the general elections in India. From 415 seats in the Lok Sabha it has slumped to a mere 190.The National Front did better than expected. The Janata Dal won 135 and the rightwing Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party 88. The Leftists managed 43 seats.
There were widespread reports of nth Lok Sabha. From violence in which 250 died and large scale booth capturing and intimidation. Despite this the peoples verdict went overwhelming against the dynastic misrule and rampant corruption of Rajiv Gandhi.
Many big “guns” of the Congress (1) fell by the wayside rejected by the people. Prominent among those trounced were Buta Singh, Gandhi’s major domo and home minister. Balram Jakhar, speaker and involved in a massive racket of fodder growing machines; Natwar Singh, Mohsina Kidwai, Jagdish Tytler, Rajesh Pilot, R.N. Mirdha, JN Kaushal are only a few.
As election returns erased any chance that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress Party would keep its majority, Parliament was dissolved Tuesday night and two Opposition political parties began discussions toward a coalition that would exclude the Congress Party from government for only the second time since India became independent 42 years ago. With 514 seats decided out of the 525 being contested in voting that took place on Nov 22, 24 and 26, the Congress Party was in the lead with 190. The Janata Dal the core of the five party National Front coalition had 135 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party had 88 and the Communist Party of India Marxist had 32. The remaining seats were split among regional parties and independents.
Even if Congress won all the undecided seats it would still fall short of the 263 seats required for a majority in the lower house. Antiestablishment Vote though technically Gandhi could still lead a coalition government, the opposition parties have refused his offer to share power. The results represent a stunning fall for the Congress Party which won 415 seats in the last elections at the end of 1984. Gandhi succeeded his mother, Indira as prime minister on Oct 31 of that year, after she was assassinated.
At least a dozen Cabinet ministers and other prominent Congress Party candidates lost races as the Congress Party suffered setbacks after setbacks in traditional strong holds while picking up new strength in areas previously dominated by the opposition. Voting behavior was almost universally negative turning out whatever party was in power.
“The ruling party has no prior claim to be called upon to form the government,” said Madhu Lim aye, a constitutional expert. “It has been rejected by the people and reduced to a minority.”
Article extracted from this publication >> December 1, 1989
