Will Rahul Gandhi be able to bring back the era of 1980? Congress made a strong comeback after the cancellation of Indira Gandhi’s membership, will Rahul be able to show the same strength?
The year was 1978 and the date was 18 November. Amid rising cold in Delhi, the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai moved a privilege motion against Congress leader Indira Gandhi, who had won the by-election from Chikmagalur in Karnataka. Indira Gandhi’s parliament membership was canceled after a debate that lasted for 7 days on the proposal. When Indira came out of the house after the cancellation of her membership, Congressmen were enthusiastic and were raising slogans – Ek sherani sau langur, Chikmagalur-Chikmagalur.
Exactly after 45 years, after a decision of the Surat Court, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has canceled the membership of Rahul Gandhi. In the letter issued under the signature of Utpal Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary of the Lok Sabha, it has been said that under Section 102 (1) (e) of the Representation of People’s Act-1951, the membership is terminated.
Rahul was sentenced to 2 years in a defamation case by a Surat court on Thursday. After the cancellation of Rahul’s membership, Congressmen are on the streets and are raising slogans of don’t be afraid.
On cancellation of Rahul’s membership, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that we are ready to go to jail to save democracy. Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has said in a statement that not all of Indira’s soldiers are dead yet.
Indira Gandhi made a strong comeback
After the Emergency was over, the opposition leaders formed a front against the Congress. Jai Prakash Narayan was leading the Morcha. Indira Gandhi was defeated in the 1977 general elections. The Congress was reduced to 154 seats in the entire country. In states like UP, Bihar, Bengal and MP, the party got swept away.
Indira Gandhi herself lost the election from Rae Bareli seat. Many of his ministers had to face defeat. After the defeat of the Congress, Morarji’s government was formed and after that the phase of action against the Gandhi family started.
In 1978, first Sanjay Gandhi was arrested and then Indira Gandhi was caught by the police. Meanwhile, the by-election was announced for the Chikmagalur seat in Karnataka. Indira Gandhi filed her nomination from here.
Veteran socialist leader Virendra Patil had entered the fray against Indira. Indira defeated Patil by more than 70 thousand votes in this election and managed to reach the Parliament. However, Indira’s membership was canceled after a few months.
After this Indira started visiting the whole country. Indira’s public meeting from Bihar to Gujarat and in the south breathed life into the Congress. In 1980, the Janata Party government fell after internal dissension and then general elections were announced.
Indira faced the challenge of veteran leaders like Jagjivan Ram and Chaudhary Charan Singh, but Indira’s political battle brought back the Congress.
In 1980, the Congress registered a massive victory of 363 seats out of 529. Chaudhary Charan Singh’s party won 41 seats and Janata Party won 31 seats.
Now Rahul’s membership is cancelled, what will change?
Rahul Gandhi’s membership has been canceled after being sentenced to 2 years by the Surat court in a defamation case. After the action from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Congress has announced to fight it both politically and legally.
After the decision of the Surat court, many leaders have come in support of Rahul Gandhi. Generally, the leaders of the opposition have understood that if they remain separate, they will be dealt with by the government machinery. In such a situation, in 2024, the opposition can unite like in 1977.
Even in 1977, people of all ideologies, left and right united against Indira Gandhi and overturned the power of Congress. Although there is a lot of difference between 1977 and now, but the opposition parties have now found a reason to unite even without issues.
Will Rahul Gandhi be able to bring back the era of 1980?
After the cancellation of Rahul Gandhi’s membership, the biggest question is whether he can get Congress back like 1980 like grandmother Indira Gandhi? Senior journalist Shakeel Akhtar says in response to this question, ‘Everything depends on the strategy of the Congress. If the Congress will fight the political battle with a strategy, then a lot can change in 2024.
Pradeep Saurabh says, ‘Rahul Gandhi will be strong after this episode. There is no doubt about it, but it is too early to say whether Congress will get political benefit from it or not.
According to Saurabh, a lot will depend on the stand of the High Court or the Supreme Court on this issue in the coming days. The Congress has questioned the decision of the Surat court and has said to challenge it in the High Court. Congress has entrusted the responsibility of handling the front to senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the whole matter.
In a 2019 rally in Kolar, Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi made comments about thieves and Modi, in which a defamation case was filed in the Surat court under criminal offences. After hearing this case for 4 years, the court sentenced Rahul to 2 years.
It was strong in the south then, it is strong now
Despite the crushing defeat in 1977, the Congress was in a strong position in South India. That Congress alliance got more than 100 seats in South India. Even at present Congress is strongest in South India only. The Congress alliance has a strong hold in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
Rahul Gandhi himself also won the election from Wayanad seat in Kerala. The Congress alliance has 85 per cent seats in Kerala. In Tamil Nadu too, the Congress and DMK alliance dominates. However, the base of Congress has definitely shifted in Andhra Pradesh. There Jaganmohan Reddy’s party has replaced the Congress.
