Indian Political Parties
How long until the BJP coalition of 1998 collapsed?
13 days
Which years did Nehru lead the INC to consecutive majorities?
1952,57,62
The INC party ruled uniterrupted until when?
1977
When was Indira Gandhi reelected?
1980
When did INC move toward an ideological center?
1984
When was BJP's rise?
1989-99
When did BJP form its second coalition?
1999
How many seats are reserved for British?
2
How long was there a power struggle for INC party when there was no leadership?
2 years
How many seats are there in Lok Sabha?
545
Who served the new BJP coaliton for 5 years?
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
What was India's first major party to mobilize explicitly on the basis of religious idenitity?
BJP
What are the three major political parties for election in 2009?
BJP, CPI, INC
What is BJP?
Bharatiya Janata Party, one of the two major political parties in India
What party emerged as India's largest party in 2004 Lower House elections?
Congress Party
Who did Sonia Gandhi pick to become PM?
Dr. Manmohan Signh
In 1907 the INC was split into what two main factions?
Hard faction and soft faction; distinguished by attitudes toward British
Who supported BJP since the 1980s?
Hindu nationalists, north-center India, benefitors of decline of INC
What is Lok Sabha and who controlled it 1998-2004?
House of the People; BJP
Mohammed Ali, Jinnah, and Jawaha Lal Nehru came from what party?
INC
Who controlled Lok Sabha from 2004-2009?
INC
What was India's premier's political party until the 1990s?
Indian National Congress
What is India's oldest political party?
Indian National Congress (1985)
Who became the number 1 after Nehru?
Indira Gandhi
Who was assassinated by two Sikh bodyguards in 1984?
Indira Gandhi
who was the most remarkable leader post-independence India?
Indira Gandhi
What happened in 1977 elections in India?
Indira Gandhi was forced to step down, arrested, and faced trials
Where was Sonia Gandhi from?
Italy
What is the largest group among the Third Front?
Left Front
After WWI, who did the INC party become associated with?
Mahatma Gandhi
Who did Indira Gandhi have to challenge to become the leader?
Morarji Desai
Who are BJP's scapegoats for frustrations?
Muslims
Who is likely to become BJP's new candidate for PM?
Narendra Modi
After Gandhi was murdered in 1948, who was the sole national leader?
Nehru
What happened to INC party after Nehru died in 1964?
No leader was competitive enough to inherit the party so its lead came into question.
BJP is an electoral affiliate of?
RSS Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Sonia Gandhi is who's widow?
Rajiv Gandhi
Who was assassinated in 1991?
Rajiv Gandhi
Who is India's Congress Party's current president?
Sonia Gandhi
Who is the third most powerful woman in the world according to Forbes magazine?
Sonia Gandhi
Who assasinated Rajiv Gandhi? Why?
Tamil suicide bomber revenge for policies in Sri Lanka
What without the support of the left front would fall in New Dehli
UPA
What alliance did Sonia Gandhi lead in 2004?
United Progressive Alliance
What is UPA
United progressive alliance
What states does the left front control?
West Bengal and Kerala
What is the Third Front?
against pro rich like Congress Party and BJP, for poor, women, minority
What helped BJP rise?
break with past traditions, relatively moderate centrist position
What were some obstacles to coming to power for BJP?
difficulty forming alliances with other parties
How does Congress Party rule currently?
directly or in coalition with allies in 11 states
Why is BJP better organized than INC?
disciplined party members, carefully selected party cadres, clear and respectful authority line within party
What did BJP stand for?
economic liberalization & stability, privileged the interests of Hindu majority, champion of socio-religious cultural values
What is the left front?
four communist and marxist parties that unite to control 57 parliamentary seats.
What did Nehru transform INC party into after independence in 1947?
from mass organization into the biggest electoral party of India
When did Rajiv Gandhi become PM?
in 1984 after his mother Indira Gandhi died
Which classes did Nehru's policies challenge?
land class & business class
What kind of economic policy did Indira Gandhi have?
leftist, pro-poor
What's a sign of the BJP?
lotus
What was the Indian National Congress' main objective?
obtaining a greater share in the British Colonial government for educated Indians; more autonomy less independence
The INC was an umbrella organization for...?
radical socialist, traditionalists, Hindu & Muslim conservatives
What were the factors of Congress Party's victory in 2004?
recruiting strong allies, anti-incumbency factor among voters, courtship of India's poor, rural, and Muslim voters
Which classes did Nehru's policies improve?
religious minorities & lower class hindus
What are BJP values?
right leaning, hindu nationalist
What does UPA advocate?
secular, communist ideologies, opposes many aspects of liberalization and globalization
What are INC party's current views?
secular, left centered party, long history of political dominance
What were Nehru's ideals?
secularism, socialist economic policies, & non-aligned foreign policy
In 1975-77 what did Indira Gandhi decree?
state of emergency, authoritarian rule
What was the Iron Lady of India known for?
top-down structure, party leaders appoint party officials, limited party elections
What led to his defeat in 1989 election?
unpopular in Sri Lanka & scandal
Who were the traditional supporters the BJP?
urban, lower-middle class groups
What was Rajiv Gandhi's reputation?
young, modern, and Mr. Clean, leader free of corruption
