Key Moments That Shaped India's Political Landscape
-
Indira Gandhi wrongly targeted and jailed RSS workers during the Emergency, giving the RSS legitimacy and paving the way for the eventual rise of the BJP.
-
Rajiv Gandhi mistakenly gave up power in 1989 despite having the most seats, allowing VP Singh to become PM and opening the door for the BJP to gain national prominence.
-
Vajpayee and Advani foolishly called early elections in 2004 due to overconfidence, leading to BJP's loss of power and decline of Vajpayee and Advani's careers.
-
Rajiv's decision to relinquish power in 1989 had the biggest impact, as it ended single-party Congress dominance and shaped coalition politics for decades after.
-
These blunders altered India's political trajectory - the Gandhis empowered the BJP, while the 2004 loss brought the Congress back and paved the way for Modi's eventual rise.