Page 82 - Leap of Faith inside pages with cover (1)

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

The mid-term elec ons hardly alleviated the poli cal 1970- or 15 months before the expiry of its natural term.
crisis. The situa on became further complicated when Dr. Various prophets of doom, both inside and outside India,
Zakir Hussain, the serving President of India, suddenly began to cast doubts on the survival of democracy in
passed away on May 3, 1969. The poli cs around the India. “India'' to quote Sen-Varma, “was in the middle of
elec on of a new President led to the great schism in deepest and darkest woods and was groping for a way
Indian Na onal Congress that had few parallels in the out”. The Fi h General Elec ons to the House of the
history of poli cal par es in the world. This split led to the People (Lok Sabha) was held in early 1971, and to the
landmark Congress Symbol Case. However, even before legisla ve assemblies in 19 states and union territories in
Elec on Commission of India could decide the case, early 1972. When S.P. Sen-Varma re red on September
President V.V. Giri, on the advice of the Prime Minister, 30, 1972 he had the sa sfac on of seeing Indian
dissolved the Lok Sabha on the night of December 27, democracy de over the gloom.

“ “
e people of this country - the Gana Devata
(mass-dei), did assert themselves this time also
to vindicate the honour of the Mother by
ensuring the safety of Democracy and free
government of the people. Which party won
the elections was not very material, because in
a free democracy, there must be more political
parties than one, and the people may choose at
any particular time any particular party to take
reins of the government.

-S.P. Sen-Varma
Chief Election Commissioner (1967-72)
Report of the Fih General Elections in India 1971-72
(1972), P.ii

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