Congress for Democracy
Encyclopedia
The Congress for Democracy (CFD) was an India
n political party founded in 1977 by Jagjivan Ram
. It was formed after Jagjivan Ram left the Congress party
of Indira Gandhi
and denounced her rule during the Indian Emergency. The party contested the Indian general election, 1977
with the Janata alliance and later merged with it.
. He was also the most prominent Scheduled Caste or Dalit
politician in the nation. Ram had stayed loyal to Indira after she imposed a state of emergency
in 1975. However, the state of emergency had proven widely unpopular and upon calling elections in 1977, it became apparent that Indira's Congress could suffer defeat. Consequently, Ram and his supporters resigned from the government and the Congress party in January 1977, denouncing Indira Gandhi and her Emergency rule. The Congress for Democracy was launched on February 2, 1977. Jagjivan Ram became the president of the party and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh H. N. Bahuguna
became the party general secretary. Other co-founders included the former Chief Minister of Orissa Nandini Satpathy
, former Union Minister of State for Finance K. R. Ganesh, former M.P. D. N. Tiwari and Bihar
i politician Mangal Raj Pandey.
In the 1977 elections, the Janata-CFD alliance won 298 seats, ousting the Congress from power for the first time in 30 years. The Congress for Democracy itself won only 28 seats, but its role in raising significant support for the Janata alliance amongst India's Scheduled Caste communities, formerly a loyal Congress base, earned it considerable influence in the formation of a new government.
and Charan Singh, Jagjivan Ram was a leading candidate to become the new Prime Minister of India as head of the Janata-CFD coalition. Seeking to avoid a divisive contest, Janata leaders asked Jayaprakash Narayan, who was seen as the spiritual leader of the party, to choose the leader, pledging to abide by his choice. When Narayan chose Desai, the CFD expressed criticism at the un-democratic selection of the leader and hesitated about joining the government. However, Narayan and Desai coaxed Ram into joining the government as a Deputy Prime Minister of India
and Minister of Defence. H. N. Bahuguna joined the Cabinet as Minister of Petroleum and Chemicals. On May 5, 1977 the Congress for Democracy announced its intention to merge its organisation with the Janata party.
- "J" standing for "Jagjivan", which maintained a small presence in the Indian Parliament.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n political party founded in 1977 by Jagjivan Ram
Jagjivan Ram
Babu Jagjivan Ram , known popularly as Babuji, was a freedom fighter and a social reformer hailing from the scheduled castes of Bihar in India. He was from the Chamar caste and was a leader for his community...
. It was formed after Jagjivan Ram left the Congress party
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
and denounced her rule during the Indian Emergency. The party contested the Indian general election, 1977
Indian general election, 1977
India held general elections to the 6th Lok Sabha. This sixth general elections, which were conducted for 542 seats from 542 constituencies, represented 27 Indian states and union territories. These 542 constituencies were remain same till Indian general elections, 2004 for the 14th Lok Sabha.The...
with the Janata alliance and later merged with it.
Formation
Jagjivan Ram was a senior politician within the Congress party and had been a loyalist of Indira Gandhi. He had held various cabinet posts, and had served India's defence minister during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
. He was also the most prominent Scheduled Caste or Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
politician in the nation. Ram had stayed loyal to Indira after she imposed a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
in 1975. However, the state of emergency had proven widely unpopular and upon calling elections in 1977, it became apparent that Indira's Congress could suffer defeat. Consequently, Ram and his supporters resigned from the government and the Congress party in January 1977, denouncing Indira Gandhi and her Emergency rule. The Congress for Democracy was launched on February 2, 1977. Jagjivan Ram became the president of the party and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh H. N. Bahuguna
Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna
Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna was a Congress Party leader and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; he later joined Bharatiya Lok Dal and worked with Charan Singh.-Early life:...
became the party general secretary. Other co-founders included the former Chief Minister of Orissa Nandini Satpathy
Nandini Satpathy
Nandini Satpathy , was an Indian politician and author, and was the former Chief Minister of Orissa.-Family:...
, former Union Minister of State for Finance K. R. Ganesh, former M.P. D. N. Tiwari and Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
i politician Mangal Raj Pandey.
1977 election
Although the new party was mocked by Indira's Congress as the "Congress for Defectors" Jagjivan Ram's support was actively courted by the opposition Janata party alliance as he was the most influential Scheduled Caste leader in the country. While the Congress for Democracy agreed to jointly campaign and contest the election with the Janata party, it stated that it would maintain a separate organisation and identity.In the 1977 elections, the Janata-CFD alliance won 298 seats, ousting the Congress from power for the first time in 30 years. The Congress for Democracy itself won only 28 seats, but its role in raising significant support for the Janata alliance amongst India's Scheduled Caste communities, formerly a loyal Congress base, earned it considerable influence in the formation of a new government.
Merger with Janata
Along with Morarji DesaiMorarji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
and Charan Singh, Jagjivan Ram was a leading candidate to become the new Prime Minister of India as head of the Janata-CFD coalition. Seeking to avoid a divisive contest, Janata leaders asked Jayaprakash Narayan, who was seen as the spiritual leader of the party, to choose the leader, pledging to abide by his choice. When Narayan chose Desai, the CFD expressed criticism at the un-democratic selection of the leader and hesitated about joining the government. However, Narayan and Desai coaxed Ram into joining the government as a Deputy Prime Minister of India
Deputy Prime Minister of India
The Deputy Prime Minister of India is a member of the Indian cabinet in the Indian government. The post is not a constitutional post and seldom carries any specific powers. Generally a Deputy Prime Minister also holds other key portfolios like Home minister or Finance Minister...
and Minister of Defence. H. N. Bahuguna joined the Cabinet as Minister of Petroleum and Chemicals. On May 5, 1977 the Congress for Democracy announced its intention to merge its organisation with the Janata party.
Post-Janata
Despite joining the ranks of the Janata party, CFD politicians remained specifically loyal to Jagjivan Ram. When Ram withdrew his support for the Desai government in 1979, he was supported by a significant number of former CFD MPs. With the fall of the Janata government in 1979-80, Ram and his supporters formed the Congress (J)Congress (J)
The Congress was a short-lived Indian political party founded by Jagjivan Ram in 1980, the former Defence Minister of India and participant in the Janata alliance. The "J" stood for "Jagjivan." The party maintained a small presence in the Indian Parliament but dissolved after Ram's death in 1986....
- "J" standing for "Jagjivan", which maintained a small presence in the Indian Parliament.