Explain any two reasons to consider the year 1967 as a landmark year in India’s political and electoral history.
Ans.
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Introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs): 1967 marked a significant milestone in India’s electoral history with the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The first use of EVMs in India took place during the general elections of 1982 in Kerala and the 1984 Lok Sabha elections in select constituencies. However, the decision to transition from paper ballots to EVMs was initiated in 1967, marking a pivotal shift towards modernizing India’s electoral process. EVMs have since become integral to India’s electoral system, facilitating faster and more accurate vote counting, reducing electoral malpractices, and enhancing the efficiency and transparency of elections.
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Emergence of Non-Congress Governments: The year 1967 is also notable for witnessing the emergence of non-Congress governments at the state level across several Indian states. In the general elections held in 1967, the Indian National Congress faced significant electoral setbacks, losing power in several key states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. This marked a departure from the Congress Party’s dominance in Indian politics since independence and signaled the rise of regional parties and coalition politics. The formation of non-Congress governments in multiple states reflected changing political dynamics, increased voter participation, and the diversification of India’s political landscape, laying the foundation for greater political pluralism and decentralization of power in the years to come.
