Chapter - 2 EXPERIMENT IN COALITION POLITICS

Transcription

1 Chapter - 2 EXPERIMENT IN COALITION POLITICS The decade of 1960s was watershed in the history of Indian Politics. It saw the transition from a single-party system to the emergence of the Regional parties based upon the system of alliances and coalitions. In 1967, the fourth General Election in India saw the power slipping out of the hands of Congress party after remaining in saddle for 20 years in many States of the country. The decades of 1960's and 1970's gave rise to the experiment of alliances and coalitional politics with different regional parties asserting themselves in various States. The coalition politics at its infancy faced teething problems of defections and counter-defections engineered by the single largest party at the strong Centre. This system of alliances and coalitions was perfected with the legislations such as Anti-Defection Act of 1985 in place. Gradually, it matured to see the reality of the day in the last decade of the 20 th Century and in the 21 st Century. In February 1967, India s fourth General Election was held and although Congress remained in power, the results were dismaying. Congress lost 95 seats, winning only 282 out of a house of 520, 44

2 leaving it with a precarious overall majority of 44. It also lost its majority in seven States On 5 March 1967, the first non-congress Government headed by Mr. Mahamaya Prasad Sinha of Jana-Kranti Dal was sworn in Bihar, which included 11 Ministers and 3 Ministers of State, which gave strength to United Front's claim in Punjab. 2. A 13-member United Front Ministry, headed by Mr. E.M.S Namboodiripad, CPI-Marxist leader was installed in Kerala. 3. The 9-man Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Ministry, headed by Mr. C.N. Annadurai was installed in Madras. 4. The United Front Government headed by Mr. Ajoy Mukherjee was sworn in West Bengal. 5. The First Swatantra led Ministry in the country was installed in Orissa. It included the 15-member Ministerial Council, headed by Mr. R.N. Singh Deo. 6. In Punjab, on 8 March On 24 March 1967, the 16 member Samyukta Dal Ministry, headed by Rao Birendra Singh was sworn in, it being the first non-congress Ministry in Haryana, the seventh in the country Katherine Frank, Indira : The Life Of Indira Nehru Gandhi, HarperCollins Publishers, London, 2001, p The Times, London headlines read : After the broken nose, a slap in the face. 45

3 As the human beings require some time to adapt themselves to the new environment, so is the case with institutions and organizations. In India, till the mid 1960's, the Congress Party had become so habituated to rule and the opposition parties so accustomed to oppose that they were not finding it easy to fit themselves to the radically different situation created by the results of the fourth General Election in The loss of power in many States had left Congressmen there stunned and dazed and, like Othello, they felt they had lost their occupation. This sense of loss and bereavement was not unnatural in these circumstances. However, change is the law of nature, it had to come one time or another. In Punjab, for the February 1967, General Election and Punjab Assembly Elections, there were 13 Parliamentary seats namely 1) Fazilka, 2) Ferozepur, 3) Tarn Taran, 4) Amritsar, 5) Gurdaspur, 6) Hoshiarpur, 7) Jalandhar, 8) Phillaur (S.C.), 9) Ludhiana, 10) Ropar (S.C.), 11) Patiala, 12) Sangrur, 13) Bhatinda (S.C.) and 104 assembly seats from Punjab. 52 On 15 January 1967, the Sant Group and the Punjab Communist Party (Right) agreed on a nine-point programme on the basis of which a United Front was to be formed. The United front was expected to include the Communist Party (Marxist), the Republican 52 Statistical Abstract of Punjab-1967, The Economic Adviser to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh. 46

4 party, the SSP and progressive individuals. In the 1967 election manifesto, the Akali Dal laid emphasis on economic development to make Punjab a model State which would be an object of envy for others Sade Chon Manorath, Shiromani Akali Dal, Amritsar,

5 Figure - 2 : Punjab Parliamentary and Vidhan Sabha Constituencies

6 In Patiala Parliamentary seat, the number of assembly seats were increased from 7 to 9. The two new constituencies added were Dakala and Banur. In 1962 election, the Congress had bagged all the seven assembly seats as well as the Parliamentary seat of Patiala. In 1967, the Congress contested eight of the nine Assembly constituencies and did not put up any candidate in Dakala where Maharaja of Patiala was contesting as an Independent. Two exceptions in Patiala were, Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala, sitting MLA from Sirhind was shifted to Payal constituency in Ludhiana District and Mr. Jasdev Singh Sandhu, sitting MLA from Raipur was denied the party ticket. In Sangrur parliamentary seat, Mr. Ranjit Singh, a Congress M.P and a Mill Magnate was caught in an awkward election contest for Sangrur Seat, against his daughter-in-law, Bibi Nirlep Kaur, daughter of Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala, Agriculture Minister of Punjab. In Sangrur Parliamentary Seat, there were 9 assembly seats including 2 reserved seats, they were: 1) Sangrur, 2) Lehra, 3) Sunam, 4) Dhuri, 5) Malerkotla, 6) Barnala, 7) Sherpur (R), 8) Bhadaur (R), 9) Dhanuala. In Gurdaspur Parliamentary Constituency, Prof. D.C. Sharma was seeking re-election and in Amritsar Parliamentary constituency, Mr. Surjit Singh Majithia was seeking re-election. On 19 February 1967, about 63 Lakhs people casted their votes to elect the 104 members of state Vidhan Sabha and the 13 members of the Lok Sabha from Punjab. 54 For the Lok Sabha, the Congress had 54 The Tribune, 20 February

7 put up candidates for all the 13 seats, the Jan Sangh for eight, the CPM for two, the CPI for two, the S.S.P. for one, the Master Akali Dal for seven, the Sant Akali Dal for eight, the Swatantra Party for six and R.P.I. for two, while there were 25 independents in the field. For the Vidhan Sabha, the Congress contested 102, the Jan Sangh 49, the S.S.P., the P.S.P., and the Swatantra Party eight each, the R.P.I. 17, the Master Akali Dal 61 and the Sant Akali Dal 58 seats. 55 Some of the major upsets in the 1967 Elections were: In Kharar, a new constituency, Baldev Singh of Akali-Sant defeated Niranjan Singh Talib, PWD Minister of Congress. In Dhanaula, Hardit Singh of Left-CPI, defeated Baba Hira Singh Bhathal of Congress.In Sirhind, Joginder Singh Mann of Akali-Master Group defeated Bhupinder Singh of Congress. In 1962, Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala won this seat as a Congress candidate who in 1967 was shifted to Payal. In Dakala, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala was declared elected as a Independent with more than 25,000 votes. In Barnala, Surjit Singh of Akali Sant Group defeated Ranjit Singh of Congress. The Speaker, Mr. Harbans Lal lost his seat and so did the Food Minister, Mr. Yash from Jalandhar South who lost his seat to Manmohan Kalia of Jan Sangh. However, the Congress suffered its biggest loss in the 1967 elections in the defeat of the Chief Minister, Mr. Gurmukh Singh Musafir, by a communist Satyapal Dang in 55 Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh. 50

8 Amritsar West Constituency. The Congress lost many important members, Mr. Ajmer Singh former Minister, Giani Kartar Singh, Mr. Harchand Singh, Dr. Parkash Kaur, Deputy Ministers and Minister Gurbanta Singh in Kartarpur was defeated by a Republican candidate Piara Ram. Lachhman Singh Akali-Sant from Dharamkot, Lambi constituency was a reserve constituency and Shiv Chand of Congress was elected. In Gidderbaha, Harcharan Singh Brar of Congress defeated Parkash Singh Badal of Akali-Sant. In 1962, Mr. Brar was elected from Muktsar which was a reserve constituency in 1967 i.e. why Mr. Brar had shifted to Gidderbaha. However, the Irrigation and Power Minister Mr. Darbara Singh from Nurmahal, the Health Minister Mr. Brish Bhan from Lehra, the Finance Minister Mr. Mohan Lal, the Agricultural Minister Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala, the Development Minister Mr. Prabodh Chandra were returned. In 1967, Congress failed to secure an absolute majority, although it emerged as the single majority party with 48 seats. The distribution of the remaining 56 seats were 56 Akali Dal (Sant) = 24 Akali Dal (Master) = 02 Jan Sangh = 09 Independents = 09 C.P.I.(Right Communists) = 05 C.P.M.(Left Communists) = The Tribune, February

9 CONGRESS AKALI (S) JAN SANGH S S P AKALI (M) COMMUNIST OTHERS SSP = 01 The Republicans = (in Numbers) TOTAL SEATS Figure - 3 : Punjab Assembly-1967 The division of the seats among the different political parties had been such that the chances of a stable Government seemed quite bleak unless the Congress entered into a coalition with one party or the other, which in itself was a difficult affair. 57 Statistical Abstract of Punjab -1967, The Economic Adviser to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh. 52

10 One of the important victory of the left communists was that of Mr. Harkishan Singh Surjit, Secretary, Punjab Communist Party (Marxists). He was twice defeated - in 1957 and 1962 by the Irrigation Minister, Mr. Darbara Singh. In 1967 election, the old battle-field - the Nurmahal Constituency - was delimited and two constituencies - Nurmahal and Bara Pind were made. Mr. Surjit was returned from Bara Pind. Table Punjab Vidhan Sabha Elections (Total Seats - 104) Party Name Seats Contested Seats Won Vote Share Percentage of Seats won Congress Akali Dal (Sant) Akali Dal (Master) Jan Sangh CPI CPI (M) Republican Party Swatantra Party PSP SSP Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh. 53

11 Independents In 1967, in Fourth General Elections, the Congress in Punjab fared better in the Parliamentary than in the Assembly Constituencies, having secured 9 out of 13 Lok Sabha seats. Table Party Performance in Lok Sabha Elections in Punjab (Total Seats - 13) Political Party Seats Contested Seats Won Percentage of Votes Congress Akali Dal (Sant) Akali Dal (Master) Jan Sangh CPI CPI (M) Independent and Others In 1962, the Congress has won 10 seats out of 13 Lok Sabha Seats. In 1967, the percentage of seats dropped from 76.9 to 69.2 percent but the performance was better than the Assembly seats, where the Congress could win only percent of seats. The Akali 59 Election Commission of India, New Delhi. 54

12 Dal retained its strength of 3, the same as in 1962 Lok Sabha elections while Jan Sangh for the first time got representation in Lok Sabha from Punjab. 60 In the Parliamentary seats of, 1. Amritsar - Surjit Singh Majithia, sitting MP was defeated by Mr. Yagya Dutt Sharma. The Jan Sangh got the Amritsar Seat by ousting the Congress from Amritsar which it had represented since 1952, thus winning the lone seat from Punjab. 2. Jalandhar- Swaran Singh of Congress was returned. 3. Ferozepur- Sohan Singh of Akali-Sant was elected. 4. Fazilka- Congress 5. Phillaur(R)- Sadhu Ram of Congress was returned 6. Ropar(R)- Congress 7. Ludhiana- Congress 8. Bhatinda(R) - Kikar Singh (Akali-Sant), driver of Sant Fateh Singh was elected. He defeated two sitting members of Lok Sabha, Mr. Daljit Singh (Congress) and Mr. Dhanna Singh Gulshan (Akali-Master) by an overwhelming majority. 9. Sangrur - Mrs. Nirlep Kaur, daughter of Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala, Agriculture Minister, fighting on Akali (Sant) Ticket, defeated her father-in-law, Mr. Ranjit Singh, a Congress candidate. 10. Tarn Taran- Gurdial Singh Dhillon of Congress returned. 60 The Tribune, 25 February

13 11. Patiala- Maharani Mohinder Kaur of Congress returned. 12. Gurdaspur Diwan Chand Sharma of Congress returned. 13. Hoshiarpur - Mr. Ram Kishan of Congress returned. 61 In the smashing and spectacular victory in Madras, the DMK obtained absolute majority in 234 member Assembly. Thus, in the South, Kerala and Madras slipped out of Congress's hand. In the North, the Congress failed to obtain an absolute majority in Punjab and Rajasthan. The situation remained fluid in West Bengal. In all 9 Union Ministers were defeated such as Finance Minister Sachindra Chaudhuri, Works and Housing Minister, Mehar Chand Khanna. K. Kamaraj lost his parliamentary seat to a twenty six year old student leader of the regional D.M.K Party in Madras. 62 This was the first time in the post-independence history of the INC that its monopoly of power had been shaken in the country. In 1962, out of 87 seats, the Congress had won only 50 seats, which gives a percentage of 57.47% only. Later, the strength of the Congress in the Assembly increased with opposition members joining the Congress, thus raising the strength to 57. In 1967, in a new 104- member Assembly, Congress got 48 member strength, thus a drop was witnessed. In 1967, the Jan Sangh improved both its strength and its poll percentage. Its strength has risen from 4 members in outgoing Assembly to 9 members in the new one. In 1962, the Akali 61 Statistical Abstract of Punjab-1967, The Economic Adviser to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh. 62 Katherine Frank, Indira : The Life Of Indira Nehru Gandhi, p

14 Dal when there was no rift had won 19 seats with 20 percent votes. And in 1967, the Sant Akali Dal alone had won 24 seats with percent votes. The Master Akali Dal was virtually routed winning only 2 seats, both in Patiala district. 63 The Communists, both groups together, however, failed to retain their strength, they had in the outgoing Assembly. 64 There were indications by Mrs. Indira Gandhi that the Congress party in Punjab will form the Government. The Congress party had a strength of 48 in the House of 104. It required 5 more members to have an absolute majority which they could achieve with the help of Independents. On the contrary, the Akalis and the Jan Sangh agreed on a Common Programme so as to provide clean and good administration to the people; checking of rise in prices and to make Punjab a strong and prosperous state. On 1 March 1967, with a view to forming an opposition Government in Punjab, a United Front of opposition parties was formed. A decision on the complete Accord was reached at a meeting of top leaders of Sant Akali Dal and the Jan Sangh, which was attended among others by Mr. Gurnam Singh, Mr. Lachhman Singh Gill, Mr. Mohinder Singh, Mr. Yagya Dutt, Secretary of the All India Jan Sangh, Dr. Baldev Prakash, President of the Punjab Jan Sangh, whereas old and new Congress legislators of Punjab had discussions 63 Statistical Abstract of Punjab- 1967, The Economic Adviser to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh. 64 The Tribune, February,

15 with Mr. Swaran Singh, Defence Minister, on the election of the leader of the Congress legislature party. The Defence Minister had actively worked for the party leader twice before, once when Mr. Ram Kishan was chosen and again when his successor, Mr. Gurmukh Singh Musafir was selected. 65 As the Punjab Congress Legislature Party was vacillating on the issue of leadership of the Congress Party, three significant developments brightened the chances of the installation of a Government by combined opposition parties. First, the Independents who held the balance of power between the even strength of the Congress and the combination of all Opposition parties, decided to support first the opposition bid to make the Government. Second, the Akalis-Sant had secured the blessing of Sant Fateh Singh in their efforts to form a United Front of Opposition and form the Government. Thirdly, the President of the Punjab unit of the Republican Party, Mr. Gurcharan Singh, M.L.A. had repudiated the claims of the then PPCC Chief, Giani Zail Singh, that the three Republican MLAs, had agreed to support the Congress in forming the Ministry. On 4 March 1967, seven opposition parties of Punjab with a joint strength of 47 legislators in the 104 member new Punjab Vidhan Sabha joined hands and formed a People's United Front to set up a non-congress Ministry in Punjab. People's United Front claimed the support of 6 Independents, thereby bringing their strength to 53. Mr. 65 The Tribune, 2 March

16 Gurnam Singh, former leader of the Akali Party in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, was unanimously elected leader of the Front. 66 Mr. Gurnam Singh disclosed that the 11-point programme of the Front had been formulated. The opposition parties which came together were the Akali Dal (Sant Group), the Jan Sangh, the Communist Party (Right), the Communist Party (Left), the Republican Party, the Akali Dal (Master Tara Singh Group) and the Samyukta Socialist Party. 67 On 6 March, Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala, Agriculture Minister, was unanimously elected leader of the Punjab Congress Legislature Party. There was bickering among groups, where Giani Zail Singh and his supporters were behind the elevation of Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala but the Musafir Group were opposed to him and were supporting either Mr. Brish Bhan or General Mohan Singh of the INA. 68 To clarify any doubts and complication, Mr. Gurnam Singh presented to the Governor the leaders of all the eight political parties constituting the Front and six independents. Mr. Gurnam Singh was accompanied by Mr. Lachhman Singh Gill (Akali-Sant), Dr. Baldev Parkash (Jan Sangh), Mr. Joginder Singh Mann (Akali-Master), Mr. Harkishan Singh Surjeet (C.P.M), Mr. Satpal Dang (C.P.I.), Dr. Jagjit Singh (R.P.I.) and Mr. Balbir Singh (S.S.P.). The Independents who have formed the party of Democrats were Mr. Rajinder Singh "Sparrow" (Jalandhar Cantonment), Mr. Darbara Singh (Nakodar), Mr. 66 The Tribune, 4-5 March Statistical Abstract of Punjab-1967, The Economic Adviser to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh. 68 The Tribune, 7 March

17 Bhajan Lal (Samana), Mr. Ram Parkash Dass (Dasuya), Mr. Faqir Chand (Bhatinda) and Mr. Bishamber Nath (Mukerian). The Congress saw the power slipping out of their hand after remaining in office for 20 years. The eight-party coalition were launched into office with a precious majority of only two. It had a strength of 53 in a House of 104. The Congress had 48 members and three Independents- the Maharaja of Patiala, Mr. Narinder Singh of Nabha and Mr. Bakhtawar Singh of Guru Harsahai. 69 On 8 March 1967, a five-member Ministry, headed by Mr. Gurnam Singh, leader of the People's United Front, was sworn in at 5 PM, ushering in the first non-congress Government in Punjab. The Governor, Mr. Dharma Vira administered the Oath of Office and secrecy first to Mr. Gurnam Singh, Chief Minister and then in order of precedence to Dr. Baldev Prakash, Mr. Lachhman Singh Gill, Mr. Rajinder Singh and Mr. Piara Ram. Mr. Gurnam Singh and Mr. Rajinder Singh took the oath in English, Dr. Baldev Prakash in Hindi and the other two in Punjabi. Among the Congressmen, the swearingin ceremony was attended by former Chief Minister, Mr. Gurmukh Singh Musafir, Mr. Brish Bhan and Mr. Prabodh Chandra. Mr. Gurnam Singh, the leader of United Front Government and the First Non-Congress Chief Minister graduated from the Forman Christian College, Lahore and obtained his degree of Law from London. He 69 Statistical Abstract of Punjab-1967, The Economic Adviser to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh. 60

18 entered politics after his retirement as a Judge of the Punjab High Court. In 1962, he was elected to the Punjab Assembly on Akali ticket from the Raikot Constituency. In 1967, he was elected to the Punjab Assembly from Qila Raipur on Akali-Sant ticket. 70 Historically, the first non-congress government of a United Front alliance was formed after the first general elections in PEPSU in Then headed by Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala, the United Front was composed of Akalis, Jan Sangh, K.M.P.P, Scheduled Castes Federation and some Independents. The Akalis and the Jan Sangh, therefore were not cooperating for the first time in In 1952, in PEPSU also the communists kept out of the Government but promised it their support from outside. The PEPSU Ministry lasted for nearly a year when it collapsed with the invalidation of the election of nine members of the Assembly, including that of the Chief Minister and two Ministers. Whether, but for this, it would have lasted much longer is only a moot point. Even for the time it lasted, its life was not a happy one. That the life of the coalition in 1967 should be happier and longer, would be the natural wish of most people at that time. Naturally and rightly so, the Congress had predicted a premature grave for the experiment of coalition politics in its infancy because it would engineer such an action. The P.P.C.C. President 70 The Tribune, 9 March

19 Giani Zail Singh seemed so sure when he stated that, "ultimately the Congress will have to form the Government in Punjab". 71 Prior to 1967, the Akali Dal had been a fertile recruiting ground for the Congress. The power which the Congress enjoyed was the magnet, and it accounted for the political mobility of the Akali leaders. Such a type of composite Ministry of this kind that is launched on a minimum programme can only offer minimum government. It will be in the saddle without the spurs. To do the maximum good with the minimum government is always a challenge for the coalition Government and its leader, as was the case with United Front and its leader, Mr. Gurnam Singh in In a coalition, no party can admittedly have all its programmes put through, and all parties will have to balance their inconveniences. There is also no need to feel shamefaced about it. The French saying about small reforms being the worst enemies of great reforms is more a formula of social breakdown than of social reconstruction. The large number of interests and groups represented in the coalition does not necessarily mean an increased intensity of conflict within the coalition. In 1967, at the Centre, the issue of leadership was settled with Mrs. Indira Gandhi emerging as the unanimously elected Prime Minister and Mr. Morarji Desai as the Deputy Prime Minister. When both sides seemed set for a public trial of strength, then the collective 71 The Tribune, 8 March

20 intervention of four powerful State leaders- D.P. Mishra of Madhya Pradesh, C.B. Gupta of U.P., Brahmananda Reddy of Andhra and Nijalingappa of Mysore- who controlled between them 178 of the 435 members of the Congress Parliamentary Party, strengthened Kamaraj s hand and enabled him to impose a compromise formula. 72 On 13 March 1967, 33-Member Ministry was sworn in at a simple ceremony, marking the culmination of the fourth General Election. Mrs. Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister, but with the prickly and ambitious, Mr. Morarji Desai elevated to Deputy Prime Minister with important portfolio of Finance. In order to assert her independence and to demonstrate that her authority would remain unfettered, Indira chose her cabinet without consulting either Desai or Kamaraj. Her supporters and allies were given key posts: Y.B. Chavan( Home), the Harijan leader, Jagjivan Ram (Food and Agriculture), Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad (Industrial Development), Dinesh Singh(Commerce). 73 She also stated publicly that the post of deputy Prime Minister did not imply any duality of authority, and reported that Desai had pledged full and unqualified support to her. 74 Indira Gandhi dispensed with the system of ranking Cabinet members. Henceforth, she would rely on simple alphabetical order rendering cabinet positions meaningless as indicators of future power 72 Zareer Masani, Indira Gandhi, Hamish Hamilton Ltd, London, 1975, pp Katherine Frank, Indira : The Life Of Indira Nehru Gandhi, p Kuldip Nayar, Between the Lines, Allied Publishers, Bombay, 1969,p

21 line-ups. 75 The only leader whom Mrs. Gandhi is believed to have taken into confidence was Y.B. Chavan. 76 Thus, Y.B. Chavan, Swaran Singh, M.C. Chagla retained their old portfolios of Home, Defence and External Affairs. Imparting a new look to the Indira Cabinet were the eminent educationist, Dr. Triguna Sen, a member of the Education Commission, who got Education. Also included in the Cabinet were Maharaja Karan Singh, the Governor of Kashmir who got Tourism and Civil Aviation 77 and K.K. Shah, both believed to be loyal supporters of the Prime Minister. 78 The issue of corruption is an age old issue which also came up when Justice Gurnam Singh took over as Chief Minister in Mr. Gurnam Singh enlisted the first step of his Government as the eradication of corruption and he justified why he had given a high place to the removal of corruption in its programme of action as he said that he see corruption everywhere, so he exhorted the outgoing Chief Minister, Musafir and his political rivals to admit it and make efforts to remove it from public domain, instead of hide it. In Punjab, the first trial of strength between the United Front and the Congress was on the issue of the election of the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha. The Punjab Congress Legislature Party decided to contest the election of the Speaker. On 21 March 1967 the 75 Nayantara Sahgal, Indira Gandhi : Her Road To Power, Frederick Ungar,New York, 1982, p Zareer Masani, Indira Gandhi, p The Tribune, 14 March Zareer Masani, Indira Gandhi, p

22 Coordination Committee of the Front decided to set up Mr. Lal Chand Saberwal (Jan Sangh) as their nominee for Speakership. Despite Front's decision to set up Mr. Saberwal, the Maharaja of Patiala, an independent member tried to persuade the Front to adopt Mr. Joginder Singh Mann (Akali Master) in place of Mr. Saberwal. On 21 March 1967, United Front survived the trial of strength as Mr. Joginder Singh Mann, the official nominee of the ruling People's United Front was elected Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha by 32 votes to 25. While, inaugurating the newly elected Punjab Assembly, the Governor, Mr. Dharma Vira declared that the upper house, the Punjab Legislative Council would be abolished as a measure of economy. 79 On 27 March 1967, the people's United Front's candidate, Dr. Jagjit Singh was elected Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. He was elected to the Assembly from the Tanda Constituency on the Republican ticket. Dr. Jagjit Singh had unsuccessfully contested the speakership election on 21 March against the Front's Official Nominee, Mr. J.S. Mann. The Congress had then supported Dr. Jagjit Singh. 80 On 4 April 1967, the Punjab Cabinet was expanded by the addition of 5 new members of which, Mr. Sat Pal Dang, CPI was the first to be sworn in as Minister. He was followed by four Deputy 79 Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Reports, 31 March Ibid. 65

23 Ministers, in the order of precedence were, Mr. Bishambar Nath Makkar, an Independent from Mukerian, Mr. Darbara Singh, an Independent from Nakodar, Mr. Faqir Chand, an Independent from Bhatinda and Mr. Satnam Singh Bajwa, a Congress legislator from Qadian, who switched sides to United Front. 81 On 5 April 1967, the 29-day old United Front Government was defeated in the State Vidhan Sabha when the 104-member House accepted an Opposition amendment to the motion of thanks to the Governor by 53 votes to 49. This happened when the leader of the Opposition, Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala, mover of the amendment, demanded at the conclusion of the three-day general debate on the Governor's Address that the House be divided on his amendment. The Chief Minister, Mr. Gurnam Singh did not take the vote as a defeat of the Government and said that he would seek a vote of confidence of the House. 82 On 6 April 1967, the Chief Minister moved the motion for sine die adjournment, after the re-assembly of the House following pandemonium. The Speaker immediately swung into action and put it to vote amidst continuous desk thumping by the Congress members. As a result Congress did not participate in the voting and the Treasury Benches in a loud outburst said "aye" to the motion and the Punjab Assembly was adjourned sine die. 81 The Tribune, 5 April The Tribune, 6 April

24 The defeat of Mr. Gurnam Singh's ministry on 5 April 1967 was a notice to it to quit. But if Mr. Gurnam Singh was not prepared to treat 5 April's defeat as a vote of no confidence, he had only one course left. The Cabinet had at all times in the past and in the present the privilege of demonstrating, by proposing a vote of confidence, its control of a majority. This was infact, what Mr. Gurnam Singh said he would do to clear the confusion. If he were so confident of the confidence of the majority, he need not have resorted to the shabby expedient of adjourning the House sine die. He could have straight away sought a confidence vote and vindicated his claim. On the other hand, if the Opposition was sure of its majority it could have moved a vote of no-confidence against the Government and defeated it convincingly. Evidently, it was not prepared to risk such a step and hence its insistence that the Government must go on the basis of its earlier defeat. Thus, on the one side was the government which was afraid to ask for a vote of confidence and on the other side was an Opposition which was afraid to move a vote of no-confidence. This was basically a fraud on the Constitution. The Punjab Governor, Mr. Dharma Vira was reluctant to dismiss the Gurnam Singh ministry and was inclined to ask either the Chief Minister, Mr. Gurnam Singh, to seek a vote of confidence or the leader of Opposition, Mr. Rarewala, to move a vote of No-confidence against the United Front Government. 67

25 The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Gurnam Singh announced that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which was adjourned sine die on 6 April, would be re-convened on 5 May Sant Fateh Singh, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal extended an invitation to Mr. Gian Singh Rarewala, Mr. Mohan Singh, Jathedar Mohan Singh Nagoke and Amar Singh Dosanjh to join the Akali Dal. He welcomed the decision of Giani Kartar Singh and his associates to join the Akali Dal. He also assured that Congress party would suffer a crushing defeat in the Punjab Assembly Session on 5 May 1967 thus building up the tempo for clash. Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala was very forthright in declaring that he and his supporters in Punjab Vidhan Sabha would support the United Front Government in case the Congress opposition chose to table a no-confidence motion. The Maharaja who as an independent member of the house sided with the opposition on the latter's amendment to the Governor's Address on 5 April, only because of his passion for the Punjabi language. On 4 May 1967, Five more Punjab Ministers were sworn in, thus raising the strength from 11 to 16. They were in order of precedence, Mr. Balwant Singh, Mr. Baloo Ram, Mr. Gurmeet Singh, Mr. Jagtar Singh and Mr. Shiv Chand. All the five new entrants in the United Front have defected from the Congress, thus including Satnam Singh Bajwa, the total number of Congress deserters were raised to 6. 68

26 Immediately, the Punjab Congress legislature Party expelled for 6 years all the six members who defected from the party and joined the United Front. 83 Mr. Gurnam Singh, Chief Minister said on further Cabinet expansion that there cannot be any finality in this matter thereby indicating that the horse trading would go on unabated. On 5 May 1967, the first day of the Budget session, Mr. Baldev Singh, who defected from the United Front to the Congress on 15 April 1967 and who voted with the Congress on 5 April 1967 was beaten on the ramp of the Vidhan Sabha, and he entered the House without his turban which was snatched by those who had beaten him. It was alleged that Lachhman Singh Gill, Education Minister was behind the attack. There was verbal dual witnessed between Mr. Gurcharan Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Mr. Prabodh Chandra in the Assembly. 84 What happened in and around the Punjab Assembly on 5 May 1967 was disgraceful and disgusting to the core. The art of free government by free discussion was the most rewarding of all the acts of any civilized people. By kicking it in the shin and knifing it is the back, the politicians were taking the people back to the age of barbarians. The United Front Ministry fell after a period of eight months on 22 November 1967 as a sequel to the defection by Gill and 16 others. 83 The Tribune, 5 May Ibid. 69

27 It was followed by Lachhman Singh Gill Ministry. Lachhman Singh Gill formed a minority government on 25 November 1967, and gave ministerial posts to all the defectors. 85 which remained for 9 months in office till 23 August when Congress withdrew support from the Government and President's rule was imposed in the new Punjab, within two years of its formation. 87 No party being in majority, the Centre decided to place the State under the President s rule on 23 August, dissolving the Legislative Assembly. 88 On 11 February 1969, Akali Dal won 43 seats to Punjab Assembly in the mid-term poll, which were 5 more than the Congress and secured 29.5 percent votes for the first time. 89 (Table 5) In the other mid-term polls, on 12 February 1969, U.F. was swept into power in the West Bengal and in U.P. and Bihar, Congress party failed to get absolute majority in the mid-term poll. 90 Table Punjab Vidhan Sabha Elections : 1969 (Total Seats : 104) 85 Zail Singh, Memoirs of Giani Zail Singh, Har Anand Publications, New Delhi, 1997, p The Tribune, 23 November J.S. Grewal, The New Cambridge History of India ii.3, The Sikhs of the Punjab, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi, 1994, p Zail Singh, Memoirs of Giani Zail Singh, p Anup Chand Kapur, The Punjab Crisis : An Analytical Study, S. Chand and Company Ltd., New Delhi, 1985, p The Tribune, February, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh. 70

28 Party Name Seats Contested Seats Won Vote Share Percentage of Seats Congress Akali Dal Jan Sangh CPI CPI (M) SSP PSP Swatantra Janata Independents/ others Thus, on 17 February 1969, Akali-Jan Sangh coalition ministry was sworn in with Mr. Gurnam Singh as Chief Minister. The important highlights of the ministry were that on 13 April 1969, fiftieth anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre was observed by the State Government. On 2 July 1969, three-language formula was introduced in Punjab. The advocates of Sikh Homeland took up the issue of Chandigarh. Jathedar Darshan Singh Pheruman went on fast unto death on 15 August 1969 on this issue. On 8 October 1969, Punjab 71

29 legislators began dharna to back Punjab's demand for Chandigarh in Delhi and on 17 October, there was massive march in support of Punjab's demand for Chandigarh. The climax was reached on 27 October 1969, when Mr. Darshan Singh Pheruman passed away on the 74 th day of his fast. 92 On 23 November 1969, Quincentenary birth celebration of Guru Nanak was observed, which was marked by great religious fervor. On 24 December 1969, Parliament took two historic decisions when it sets its seal of approval to the formation of Meghalaya within the State of Assam. And, secondly, Parliament passed the Bill to abolish Punjab Legislative Council. On the question of abolition of the Punjab Legistative Council (Vidhan Parishad), the differences between Sant Fateh Singh and Chief Minister Gurnam Singh appeared for the first time. Gurnam Singh wanted its immediate abolition, whereas Sant Fateh Singh was in favour of its retention. D.C. Pavate, who was then Governor of Punjab, noted that the Chief Minister prevailed upon the Prime Minister to push the abolition of the Council through Parliament speedily. 93 At the Centre, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Deputy P.M. Desai came into conflict on a series of issues such as the continuation of English as the official language, but the greatest area of contention was the nationalization of commercial banks, which Desai vehemently 92 Khushwant Singh, A History of the Sikhs, Volume ii, Second Edition,Oxford University Press, 1999, p D.C. Pavate, My Days as Governor, p

30 opposed and Indira s left wing followers supported. On 16 July 1969, she relieved Desai of the Finance portfolio and four days later Indira nationalized fourteen commercial banks by Presidential Ordinance, even though Parliament was shortly due to convene. Bank nationalization was a populist move and predictably it was greeted with public euphoria: Low-paid government and other employees, taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers who had never seen the interior of a bank..danced in the streets 94 It also endeared Indira to the Communist Party of India (CPI). On the issue of the Presidential election, Indira signed Reddy s presidential nomination papers and thus he became the official Congress Party candidate, but she did not issue a whip instructing Congress legislators to vote for Reddy. Finally on 20 August 1969, the Presidential election results were announced. VV Giri, the former Vice- President not Reddy- won, but narrowly and with the help of various opposition groups such as the Communists, the Sikh party, the Akali Dal, and the regional D.M.K Party of Tamil Nadu. As one observer put it, Giri won..but it was difficult to say that Sanjiva Reddy lost. 95 The differences between the Syndicate led by Kamaraj and Indira Gandhi widened and split seemed imminent. On 12 November 1969, the Syndicate held an inquisition: Indira Gandhi was tried in absentia and found guilty of indiscipline and defiance of party 94 Inder Malhotra,Indira Gandhi, Hodder, London, 1989, p P.V.Narasimha Rao,The Insider, Viking/Penguin Books India, New Delhi, 1998, p

31 leadership. The next day Congress President Nijalingappa announced that Indira had been expelled from the party. Intense lobbying followed in order to ascertain who would hold onto the majority of the Congress. Describing this period, Narasimha Rao said, Indira Gandhi..constituted a dangerous choice, albeit a compelling one. 96 Predictably, Indira won, with a total of 297 Congress MPs, 220 of them from the Lok Sabha. 97 Thus, the Great Split of Congress in 1969 marked a milestone in Indira s development as well as Indian political history. 98 It had repercussions on Punjab Congress as well. Giani Zail Singh, Punjab Pradesh Congress President commented on this split, I expressed great unhappiness over this development and pledged my firm support to Mrs. Gandhi. 99 On 1 November 1969, Giani Zail Singh had met her in Delhi to reassure her of complete following of the Punjab Congress in her hour of trial. Due to his unqualified support to Mrs. Gandhi, he, like Kamlapathi Tripathi and A.P. Sharma, State Congress Presidents were expelled by the Syndicate. 100 On 2 January 1970, the 17 member Akali-Jan Sangh Coalition Ministry was expanded by the inclusion of Mr. Radha Krishan, who 96 P.V.Narasimha Rao,The Insider, p Katherine Frank, Indira : The Life Of Indira Nehru Gandhi, p Katherine Frank, Indira : The Life Of Indira Nehru Gandhi, p Zail Singh, Memoirs of Giani Zail Singh, Har Anand Publications, New Delhi,1997, p Zail Singh, Memoirs of Giani Zail Singh, pp

32 had defected from the Congress to the Akali Dal. Mr. Radha Krishan represented the Fazilka constituency. On the issue of Chandigarh, the Union Government was trying to find a formula which was acceptable to both the States and leave the least amount of bitterness among the parties concerned. Both the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Gurnam Singh and Mr. Bansi Lal, Haryana's Chief Minister stuck to their respective claims on the city of Chandigarh. The Centre had proposed the division of the City between Punjab and Haryana in the ratio of 60:40 but both the Governments of Punjab and Haryana refused to accept the division of Chandigarh which was presenting a big hurdle to the solution of the vexed problem. On 9 January 1970, the Akali Dal working committee called upon its rank and file to prepare for the struggle to secure Chandigarh for Punjab by suspending its constitution and proclaiming Sant Fateh Singh as the 'dictator'. In a resolution, it was decided that the Akali Ministers, legislators and members of Parliament would hand over their resignations to the Sant. As an immediate effect, eight Punjab Ministers including Mr. Gurnam Singh Chief Minister submitted their resignations to Sant Fateh Singh. 101 On 10 January, the All World Panthic Convention attended by about 5000 delegates from all over India and foreign countries, unanimously endorsed the resolution 101 The Tribune, 9-10 January

33 adopted by working committee of the Akali Dal. Sant Fateh Singh declared that he would go on fast on 26 January for the immediate merger of Chandigarh with Punjab and if he survived till 1 February 1970, he would self-immolate himself. On 25 January 1970, six of the seven opposition parties in Parliament which responded to the Prime Minister's invitation to discuss the Chandigarh issue had given the view that Chandigarh should be given to Punjab and adequate compensation provided to Haryana to build a new capital. On 26 January 1970, the Akali 'dictator' Sant Fateh Singh went on a six days fast for the immediate merger of Chandigarh with Punjab without bargaining or bartering away of Fazilka, in the building adjoining the Akal Takht. Sant Fateh Singh declared that he would commit self-immolation, if he survived the fast, on February 1, at 3:00p.m. in the "Agan Kund", which had been built for this purpose on the roof of that building. On the other hand, on that day, Punjab Ministers boycotted the Republic Day functions and Tricolour was burnt in Amritsar, and torn at many places to mark Akali Dal's 'Protest Day'. 102 On 29 January 1970, the Centre's long awaited decision on the City's future was announced. It was declared that the Chandigarh Capital Project area would be transferred to Punjab within five 102 The Tribune, 28 January

34 years. 103 Punjab would also get the Punjabi-speaking areas which had been added to the city to form the existing Union Territory, while Haryana would get the Hindi speaking part of the Fazilka tehsil in the Ferozepur district of Punjab and the Hindi speaking areas in the Union Territory. To provide contiguity between the Fazilka areas and the rest of Haryana, a furlong wide "strip of territory" along with Punjab-Rajasthan border would also be transferred to Haryana. It was also decided that Haryana would be given Rs. 20 crores, half of it as grant and the other half as loan to build the new capital. Pending construction of the new capital, Haryana would continue to use office and residential accommodation in Chandigarh for a period "not exceeding five years" and during that period, Chandigarh would remain a Union territory. 104 On the issue of Bhakra and Beas Projects, the Government agreed that it would consider such modifications in the existing arrangements as were necessary. Under the existing arrangements at that time, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh were represented on the Bhakra Management Board and the Beas Construction Board, both of which functioned under the overall control of the Centre. The Government also proposed to appoint a commission to examine other claims and counter-claims for readjustment of the existing inter-state boundaries. The Centre's 103 The Tribune, 30 January Anup Chand Kapur,The Punjab Crisis:An Analytical Study, p

35 decision on Chandigarh was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet which was preceded by a meeting of its Internal Affairs Committee. 105 On 30 January 1970, Sant Fateh Singh accepted the unanimous verdict of the Akali Dal's high command and the decision of the All Party Action Committee and broke his fast in the building adjoining Akal Takht after a glass of orange juice was served to him by Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Gurnam Singh. The Akali Dal's high command at its meeting unanimously adopted a resolution saying that it welcomed the Centre's decision as it gave the whole of Chandigarh to Punjab. On 25 March 1970, the 13 month old Gurnam Singh Ministry was defeated in the Punjab Assembly when the Appropriation Bill was rejected by the House by 44 votes to 22. A bizarre spectacle of open dissensions came to be witnessed on the floor of the House, when Balwant Singh, the Finance Minister, refused to rise to present the Appropriation Bill. When it was moved by the Chief Minister himself, it was defeated. There was a rift in the Akali Dal over the Rajya Sabha biennial elections. The Chief Minister, Justice Gurnam Singh got Giani Bhupinder Singh elected to the Rajya Sabha against the official candidate of the Sant Fateh Singh. Forty Four members - 35 Akalis, 7 Jan Sanghites and 2 members of CPI (M) voted against the Bill, while 105 The Tribune, 30 January

36 22 MLAs - 18 Akalis, one PSP, one Swatantra, one SSP (Mr. Roop Lal Sathi) and the rebel Akali, Mr. Kapur Singh voted for it. The entire Congress opposition (28), 4 members of CPI and one SSP member, Mr. Balbir Singh, did not cast their votes. After the defeat on the floor of the house, the Punjab Governor, Dr. D.C. Pavate asked Mr. Gurnam Singh to submit his resignation at once; otherwise I would be required to dismiss you. 106 Within minutes of Ministry's defeat, a meeting of the Akali Dal legislature Party unanimously resolved to remove Mr. Gurnam Singh from the leadership of the party "for his treachery and working against the interests of the party". 107 He was also expelled from the membership of the party. 108 Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Development Minister in the Gurnam Singh Government was elected new leader of the Akali Legislature Party. On the other hand, Mr. Gurnam Singh, Chief Minister met Governor, Dr. D.C. Pavate and claimed to have enjoyed the support of 57 members of the Vidhan Sabha. He gave the break up as : Akalis- 25, Congress-28, PSP-1, Swatantra-1, SSP-1 and rebel Akali legislator, Mr. Kapur Singh but early next morning he resigned. On 27 March 1970, a three member, Akali-Jan Sangh Coalition Ministry, headed by Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, leader of the Akali Legislature Party was sworn in by Dr. D.C. Pavate, Governor of 106 D.C. Pavate, My Days as Governor, Vikas Publications,Delhi,1974,p The Tribune, 26 March D.C. Pavate, My Days as Governor, p

37 Punjab. 109 The other two Ministers were: Mr. Balram Das Tandon (Jan Sangh) and Mr. Balwant Singh (Akali Dal). Mr. Badal, the new Chief Minister asserted that the sheet anchor of his Government would be Hindu-Sikh unity, as expounded by the Akali leader, Sant Fateh Singh and elaborated on the 11 point programme of his Government. 110 On 30 March 1970, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed the Punjab Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 1970, by a voice vote and then it was adjourned sine die. Thus, in the first trial of strength, the Akali- Jan Sangh coalition Government, led by Parkash Singh Badal foiled the opposition attempt to block the introduction of the Bill by votes. 111 On 15 April 1970, the three member Akali-Jan Sangh coalition Ministry was expanded with the addition of 5 more Akalis. They were Mr. Sohan Singh Bassi, Mr. Surjit Singh, Dr. Bhagat Singh, Mr. Radha Krishan and Mr. Tara Singh Lyallpuri. On 30 June 1970, Badal ministry suffered a blow when four Jan Sangh Ministers resigned from the Badal Cabinet and their resignations were immediately accepted by the Governor. Dr. D.C.Pavate. The Governor asked the Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to either submit a list of his supporters or convene the State Vidhan Sabha. Badal reiterated that he was ready to face Assembly and the Punjab Vidhan Sabha would be convened soon for a 109 D.C. Pavate, My Days as Governor, p The Tribune, 28 March Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Reports, 31 March

38 trial of strength between the Badal Ministry and the Opposition. It was maintained that the collapse of the Akali Ministry would be a great blow to the Panth and Sikh Community. 112 On 1 July 1970, three Sant Akali legislators, Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Malerkotla, Mr. Gurdeep Singh Shaheed and Mr. Ajit Singh Talwandi met the Governor and informed him of their withdrawal of support from the Badal Ministry. The next day, two more Sant Akali Dal MLAs, in Punjab, namely Mr. Surinder Singh Kairon, son of the late Mr. Partap Singh Kairon and Mr. Hari Singh (Beas) withdrew their support from the Badal Ministry, thus raising the number of defection from ruling Akali Dal to five. The succeeding day another Akali MLA, Mr. Partap Singh of Kumbkalan (Ludhiana) withdrew his support from the Badal Government and joined the Akali Dal led by Mr. Gurnam Singh, Mr. Pritam Singh Bhikhowali, Akali MLA from Dhariwal also switched loyalties towards Mr. Gurnam Singh camp, thus being the seventh defection from the Sant Akali Dal in four days. Initially, the Punjab Government decided to hold a three-day emergency session of the State Assembly from 5 August. The leaders of the opposition parties mounted pressure on the Badal Government, with leaders like Satya-Pal Dang retorting that the gap of one month would be utilized for the worst type of horse trading among legislators and to organize defections. They demanded an immediate convening of the session to ascertain the extent of support enjoyed by the 112 D.C. Pavate, My Days as Governor, p

39 Government. As the Opposition was demanding the session to commence on 16 July and the Government on 5 August, so Dr. D.C. Pavate, Governor summoned the State Vidhan Sabha to convene its session on 24 July at 2 p.m. to satisfy all parties. 113 Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Jan Sangh Chief once again reiterated that his party would not support the Badal Ministry in Punjab to prevent its fall, and said that the Jan Sangh was aggrieved at the attitude of the Akali Dal towards the affiliation of colleges to Guru Nanak Dev University, withdrawal of Hindi as a medium of instruction as also a subject of study in the Punjabi University, Patiala and the communal approach to many administrative problems. Mr. Badal tried to pull out all stops in order to woo Congress (R) 114 by meeting the Congress leadership in Delhi. The Punjab Congress leaders conveyed their views to the central leadership that Congress (R) should support the Badal Ministry if Mr. Badal unconditionally agrees to follow the economic policy of the Congress and gives up the communal approach. The Punjab politics took a dramatic turn on the eve of the Akali- Congress (R) talks when seven defectors returned to the Akali Party (ruling group) after leaving Mr. Gurnam Singh's Camp. On 21 July 1970, Mr. Badal also secured the formal cooperation of Congress (R) 113 Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Reports, 31 July After the Great Split of the Congress in November 1969, Indira Gandhi's Congress took on the title Congress (R) - for Requisitionist and the Syndicate clique became Congress (O) - for Organization. Though Congress (R) was commonly taken to stand for 'Ruling' Congress and Congress (O) for the 'Old' Congress. 82