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Era of One-Party Dominance – Class 12 Political Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 12 Political Science, chapter 9. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

India held its first general election in 1951–52, a massive exercise in a poor and largely illiterate country. The Indian National Congress won the first three elections by large margins, creating an era of one-party dominance. Congress's dominance rested on its legacy from the freedom movement and its nature as a broad coalition of groups and ideologies. Opposition parties were small but played an important role in Indian democracy.

First elections

The Election Commission was set up in 1950 with Sukumar Sen as the first Chief Election Commissioner.
The first general election was held from October 1951 to February 1952 with universal adult franchise; symbols were used for voters who could not read.
Congress won 364 of 489 Lok Sabha seats; the Communist Party of India came second.

Nature of Congress dominance

Congress was a social and ideological coalition that included diverse classes, castes, religions and ideologies, from left to right.
Factions within Congress allowed different groups to be accommodated, and conflict was resolved inside the party.
In 1957 the Communist Party formed the government in Kerala under E. M. S. Namboodiripad, a rare non-Congress state government; it was dismissed in 1959.

Opposition parties

Parties such as the Socialist Party, Communist Party of India, Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party existed.
Though they won few seats, they criticised government policies and kept democracy alive.
Several opposition leaders had been part of the freedom movement and shared mutual respect with Congress leaders.

Key terms

Universal adult franchise: the right of all adult citizens to vote
One-party dominance: a situation where one party wins elections repeatedly while others exist
Election Commission: the constitutional body that conducts elections in India
Coalition: an alliance of different groups or parties
Faction: a group within a party

Important questions with answers

What was the role of opposition parties in the 1950s?2 marks

Though they won few seats, opposition parties criticised government policies, offered alternative ideas, kept the ruling party accountable and helped maintain the democratic character of the political system.

Why was the first general election a major challenge?3 marks

India was large, poor and largely illiterate; about 17 crore voters had to be registered, constituencies drawn, polling staff trained and symbols used so that people who could not read could vote. Many doubted whether democracy could work in such conditions, but the election was held successfully.

Explain the nature of Congress dominance in the first three general elections.5 marks

Congress won the general elections of 1952, 1957 and 1962 by large margins, winning around three-fourths of Lok Sabha seats though it received less than half of the votes, because of the first-past-the-post system and a divided opposition. Its dominance had several roots. It carried the legacy of the national movement and had leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru who were widely popular. It had an organisation spread across the country. Most importantly, Congress was a social and ideological coalition: it included peasants and industrialists, urban and rural people, different castes and religions, and ideologies from socialists to conservatives. Its tolerance of internal factions allowed different groups to remain within it, and conflicts were resolved through bargaining inside the party rather than through opposition parties. This made Congress an arena of political competition in itself. Unlike one-party rule in other countries, Congress dominance existed under free and fair elections, opposition parties functioned freely, and a non-Congress government came to power in Kerala in 1957. Thus it was a democratic form of dominance.

Quick revision

First election 1951–52; universal adult franchise.
Congress won the first three elections.
Congress as a coalition; factions.
Kerala 1957; opposition's role.

Exam tips

Remember Sukumar Sen and the 1951–52 election.
List four opposition parties of the 1950s with one leader each.

Practice MCQs

The first general election in India was held in
1. 1947–48
2. 1951–52
3. 1957
4. 1962
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1951–52. It used universal adult franchise.
The first Chief Election Commissioner of India was
1. T. N. Seshan
2. V. P. Menon
3. Sukumar Sen
4. Rajendra Prasad
Show answer
Answer: (c) Sukumar Sen. He organised the first elections.
The party that dominated early elections was the
1. Communist Party
2. Jana Sangh
3. Swatantra Party
4. Indian National Congress
Show answer
Answer: (d) Indian National Congress. It won the first three elections.
In 1957 a non-Congress government came to power in
1. Kerala
2. Punjab
3. Bengal
4. Madras
Show answer
Answer: (a) Kerala. It was led by E. M. S. Namboodiripad.
The second largest party in the first Lok Sabha was the
1. Jana Sangh
2. Socialist Party
3. Swatantra Party
4. Communist Party of India
Show answer
Answer: (d) Communist Party of India. It won 16 seats.
Groups within a party are called
1. coalitions
2. factions
3. fronts
4. unions
Show answer
Answer: (b) factions. Congress had many factions.
Why was Congress able to dominate early elections
1. there was no opposition at all
2. elections were not free
3. its freedom movement legacy and nature as a broad coalition
4. only Congress members could vote
Show answer
Answer: (c) its freedom movement legacy and nature as a broad coalition. It accommodated many groups.
How did one-party dominance in India differ from one-party rule elsewhere
1. it existed under free and fair elections with opposition parties
2. there were no elections
3. the army ruled
4. opposition was banned
Show answer
Answer: (a) it existed under free and fair elections with opposition parties. Democracy continued.

All chapters of Class 12 Political Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.