Nehru Starts Final Tour Of Election Campaign

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 23

Nehru Starts Final Tour Of Election Campaign

. (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) NEW DELHI, February 12. I he Indian Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) has set off on a final speaking tour to wind up the biggest—and so far the dullest —election campaign since India became independent 14 years ago.

He returned three days ago from a week-long tour that took him from snowbound Kashmir in the north to the palm-fringed sands of Madras in the south. On Sunday, he flew to the west coast.

The 72-year-old Indian leader, defying doctors' orders to ease up, works on Government papers until after midnight and rises at dawn to fly to four or five election meetings and conferences with local politicians.

Most Indians have only scant interest in the candidates, whether sponsored by Mr Nehru’s ruling Congress Party or by the other parties. When they go to election meetings they want to listen to “Chacha” (Uncle) Nehru, and for most Congressmen a visit by him is enough to ensure victory. His electoral rallies take on a country fair atmosphere. with bands, singers, cheer-leaders, processions, welcome arches and garlands of marigolds. Crowds often of more than 200.000 people. listen spellbound, squatting on the ground in silence.

If the election campaign has proved anything so far. it is that “Chacha Nehru’s” hold on the masses of India is as strong as ever. For Or Against

Although nearly 15.000 candidates and 16 political parties are contesting the election for the Central Parliament and thirteen State legislatures, when India’s 210.000.000 electors start voting next Friday they will mostly vote for or against Mr Nehru.

Most of them will vote for or against Mr Nehru.

Most of them will vote for him. The chances of the Congress Party being beaten are nil.

It is doubtful whether any

other party will get the 50 seats necessary to qualify as the official opposition in the 507 - member Lower House of Parliament, the Lok Sabha.

Mr Nehru’s opponents will be content if they can reduce the Congress Party’s staggering majority—364 seats in the 1952 elections and 371 in 1957.

The average Indian’s approach is that another five years of Congress rule

are inevitable and there is nothing much to get excited about. The British United Press said about 160,000,000 people are expected to vote in the election, which begins in the thatched-hut regions of West Bengal on February 16 and, progressing across the country, ends 10 days later in the suburbs of Bombay. The 160.000,000 is the equivalent of every man, woman and child in England, France, Canada, and Australia voting—and at that it only represents 60 per cent, of India’s 210,000,000 adult electorate. Shapeless Group Founded in 1885, the Congress Party was and is a shapeless group, with a membership ranging from the far Left to the far Right. While playing a leading role in India’s drive to independence. it developed a national character and following which no other party has obtained.

As the party of Mr Nehru. Congress favours socialism and non-alignment. It is criticised for being in office too long (14 years) and for allowing the Chinese to capture Indian territory. Apart from its huge majority in Parliament, Congress also holds controlling majorities in India’s 14 State legislatures.