The Rediff Special

The curtain fell on a suspenseful political drama involving defections horse-trading, rank opportunism and ruthless machinations

Indira Gandhi's crucial letter was a bombshell to Charan Singh. He had to submit his resignation letter to the President in which as prime minister he also advised the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha. He did not face Parliament's vote. Charan Singh, who proclaimed on the day of his appointment as prime minister, that his life's ambition was fulfilled, could hardly occupy his seat as prime minister in the Lok Sabha for a few seconds since the President, after receiving his letter, asked the Speaker to adjourn the House sine die.

Later on Jagjivan Ram began to lay claim for the prime ministership but, in the meantime, this traumatic drama which assumed the proportions of the theatre of the absurd, brought down the image of India in the comity of nations. It also internally raised among the people a question why the Lok Sabha could not be dissolved and fresh elections ordered.

The President, who studied the pulse of the public and who was equally concerned with the image and welfare of the nation, finally summoned Jagjivan Ram and Chandra Shekhar. After enquiring from them which group was supporting them and Jagjivan Ram stating that he wanted to prove his majority on the floor of the House, he was convinced about their inability to form a government and took the painful decision to dissolve the Lok Sabha.

Prior to the decision, he had a talk with S L Shakdar, the chief election commissioner, on the possibility of holding a mid-term poll as early as possible. Finally he asked Charan Singh to continue as interim caretaker prime minister. It was not improbable that the President might have consulted the three service chiefs in his capacity as the supreme commander of the defence forces, regarding the law-and-order situation, because in such a crisis he had to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.

Expectedly, this bold decision and announcement produced mixed reactions. Generally, the President's decision was widely acclaimed by the already disgusted people who heaved a sigh of relief as the curtain fell on the suspenseful political drama involving defections galore, log-rolling and horse-trading, display of rank opportunism and ruthless machinations.

One was amazed at the hints thrown by Jagjivan Ram before the dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the effect that he had no compunctions even to meet Indira Gandhi in soliciting her party's support in staking his claims for the premiership. Equally astounding was the telephonic call alleged to have been made by Chandra Shekhar to Indira Gandhi extending congratulations on her party's decision to withdraw its support to Charan Singh's government.

Although some people did not like it, the President's decision by and large, reflected the thinking of the detached observers of the political scenario. They thought that enough was enough and the numbers game should be terminated.

However, the reaction of Janata Party leaders to the President's decision crossed all limits of decency and decorum. They all gathered in the evening of that fateful day before the closed iron gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan and held a demonstration agitating against the President's decision to dissolve the Lok Sabha.

While addressing the gathering Chandra Shekhar went to the extent of hurling abuses at the President. He indulged in personal slander and cheap mudslinging, describing the President as 'a small man in a big chair' and 'a small Fuehrer' and revealed his long-harboured and little-concealed ill feelings towards Reddy.

Kind courtesy: From Farm House to Rashtrapati Bhavan, by I V Chalapati Rao and P Audinarayana Reddy, Booklinks Corporation, Hyderabad, 1989.

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