Die 7. Parlamentswahlen in Indien (I): Ein triumphaler Sieg Indira Gandhis?

Abstract This paper is the first part of an investigation into the problem of how Indira Gandhi and her party, the Congress-I, could return to power in a landslide victory in the 7th Lok-Sabha-Elections in January 1980. The focus of the argumentation centers on three fields: 1) The internal quarrels together with the 'non-government' of the Janata and the subsequent split of this party resulted in the dissolution of Parliament. High prices and deteriorating law-and-order worsened the general situation. This gave Mrs. Gandhi the chance to present herself as the only competent politician able to deal with the day-to-day running of the country. 2) An unjust election system favoured the Congress-I disproportionately. With 42,7 % of all votes polled, i. e. only 8. 3 % more than in 1977, Mrs. Gandhi gained a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Thus the Congress-I profited from the factionalism and splits of the other parties. 100 seats won by Congress-I pluralities would have gone to Janata or Lok Dal, if they had made an election pact. 3) An analysis of the regional distribution of the voting shows clearly, that especially in the Hindi-belt the position of Congress-I is still fairly weak compared with Lok Dal and Janata Party together. In the two southern states Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, however, as well in some other non-Hindi states the Congress-I could hold or regain its leading position. Part II, which will be published in the next issue of this journal, will deal with the voting behaviour of the minorities and the charismatic qualities of Mrs. Gandhi.