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www.GOALias.blogspot.com98 Politics in India since IndependenceCredit: R. K. Laxman in the Times of IndiaThe cupthat cheersSoon after the 1971 Lok Sabhaelections, a major political and militarycrisis broke out in East Pakistan (nowBangladesh). As you have read in ChapterFour, the 1971 elections were followed bythe crisis in East Pakistan and the Indo-Pak war leading to the establishmentof Bangladesh. These events added tothe popularity of Indira Gandhi. Eventhe opposition leaders admired herstatesmanship. Her party swept through allthe State Assembly elections held in 1972.She was seen not only as the protector ofthe poor and the underprivileged, but alsoa strong nationalist leader. The oppositionto her, either within the party or outside ofit, simply did not matter.With two successive election victories,one at the centre and other at the Statelevel, the dominance of the Congress wasrestored. The Congress was now in power in almost all the States. Itwas also popular across different social sections. Within a span of fouryears, Indira Gandhi had warded off the challenge to her leadershipand to the dominant position of the Congress party.Credit: KuttyThe new manner of choosing CMs by Indira Gandhi inspired this cartoon.