4 SOCIAL SCIENTIST
the single party rule of the Congress was being replaced by another single party rule, the Janata securing control not only over the Centre but a majority of the states as well. However, the Janata rule collapsed much quicker than the Congress rule; the Congress remained in power for 30 years, the Janata less than so many months.
Add to this the fact that the collapse of this second single party regime was not followed by the emergence of any other party able to take over the mantle of the Congress and the Janata. The Congress and the Janata of yester-years stand splintered into so many groups, each of whom may try to become the new Congress or the new Janata, but everyone knows this to be an impossible proposition.
The question that is universally asked today is not which of the various parties, or combination of parties, contesting the forthcoming election would secure an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and thus be able to form its own single party government. Which of them will have the largest number of its members in the new Lok Sabha—this ir. the question. Any party or combination of parties answering to the larter requirement would be obliged to seek allies in other parties or combinations in order to be able to form the new Government.
From this arises the second question: which party, or combination of parties, would ally itself with which oilier party or combination in order to form the new coalition government? Continuous manoeuvres and intrigues, with a view to forming and toppling governments, will become the order of the day at the Centre, as it has been in several states. The coming election, therefore, will see the end of India's '^political stability" which has been the envy of most of the Third World countries for whom instability, chaos, coups and counter-coups and military regime have become part of their political life.
Why lias such a situation arisen in India 32 years after independence? Conversely, whv did it not arise for such a long period, as it did in other Third World countries? In other words. what prevented the other Third World countries from having political stability which India has been enjoying for 32 years?
Mature and Skilful Bourgeoisie
The answer is that India is the only Third Word country which lias a relatively developed capitalist society, with a relatively mature and skilful bourgeoisie'at its head. Led by such towering