Manmohan Singh and Modi: A decade of Indian politics
In 2004 Manmohan Singh became India's PM and held the post till 2014. His government executed several key projects like the "Rural Health Mission, Unique Identification Authority, Rural Employment Guarantee scheme and Right to Information Act." His second term was mired by corruption charges against his party. Modi became India's 14th PM in 2014 and won over India with his promise of 'Acche Din'.
India's political scenario: 1947-1957
With India soon charting out its independence from the British, it explored democracy, venturing out to bring a change to the country's ideals from that of a socialist to a democratic nation. The Indian National Congress was on the forefront of leading the nation post its colonisation. The party, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, had helped India through its freedom struggle.
1957-1967: Indian National Congress scripts a success story
Soon afterwards, on January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, throwing the country into political disarray, as India was struggling to establish central authority. Between 1951 and 1952, India held its first political elections. Based on the British Parliamentary system, the country's first polls had around 176 million people eligible to vote. The Congress party won the national elections during 1952 and 1957.
1967-1977: Indira Gandhi comes to power
It was during the early 1960s that India's 'Iron Lady', Indira Gandhi, made her presence in the political arena. She inherited India's economic and social problems as well as the Naxal problem in Andhra Pradesh, to fight inequality and disproportionate land distribution. She nationalised 14 banks in 1969. From 1975 to 1977 Indira Gandhi declared emergency citing the reason of economic destabilisation.
Janata Party defeats Congress
In the 1977 elections, Indira Gandhi suffered defeat and the power shifted to Morarji Desai and subsequently Charan Singh in 1979.
1987-1997: Indira Gandhi's political rebirth
Indira Gandhi again came to power in 1980 and introduced a stable government for the country. She was faced with rising tensions from Kashmir, and rebel movements within eastern India. In 1984 Gandhi's rule saw Operation Blue Star in Punjab. This led to the spat between radical Bhindranwale and armies at the Golden Temple, Amritsar. In October 1984, Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.
India's visionary PM takes over: Rajiv Gandhi years
Gandhi started with the dismantling of Licence and Quota Raj. His rule brought about many social and other changes like the "reduction of taxes and tariffs on technology-based enterprises and import quotas brought about significant changes in telecommunications, airlines, defence and computers." Gandhi largely ended the militancy in Punjab and shifted the foreign policy from USSR to the USA.
One decade, 6 Prime Ministers
From 1989 to 1998 India saw 6 different PMs: V. P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee, H. D. Deve Gowda and Inder Kumar Gujral. Barring P. V. Narasimha Rao (1991-1996) none of them completed their full terms.
Vajpayee years: Of diplomacy and rising India
Vajpayee came to power in 1998 and spearheaded the country with some notable contributions like the Golden Quadrilateral project to connect India through roads. In 1998 India successfully detonated 5 nuclear devices in Pokhran. In 1999, Vajpayee handled the Kargil crisis brilliantly and pushed Pakistan back. Vajpayee expanded India's foreign policy doctrine by fostering intimate relations with US, Israel, UK and the ASEAN nations
