How Indira Gandhi's lust for absolute power led to the end of "One Nation One Election"

India’s democratic system, which allows citizens to actively influence governance at all levels, rests on the strength of its electoral process. How Indira Gandhi broke the “One Nation One Election” cycle The prime minister at the time, Indira Gandhi addressed the country on the evening of 27th December 1970. The simultaneous poll cycle, which would become gradually obstructed in later decades, fell apart in 1971 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to hold the Lok Sabha elections 15 months ahead of schedule. According to Tariq Ali’s book “The Nehrus and the Gandhis,” an aggressive Indira Gandhi had sprung into the central ring, defying K Kamaraj’s belief that she was “a pliable, weak lump of clay they could mould and remould.” She ran a vigorous campaign with the slogan “Garibi Hatao ” during the 1967 Lok Sabha election. Inder Malhotra in “Indira Gandhi: A Personal and Political Biography” revealed, “Indira’s government after the split was vulnerable, and she was advised by PN Haksar to call a midterm election in 1971 to get the popular endorsement of her policies.” Political scientist Myron Weiner mentioned that Indira Gandhi called the polls a year earlier in 1971 due to some factors, including the Congress’ loss in the 1967 elections, a period of drought, rising prices, two wars with Pakistan, increasing corruption, the decision to devalue the rupee, and the deaths of two prime ministers in quick succession.