Indira Gandhi's Bold Split: How She Rewrote Congress's Future in 1978

• On January 2, 1978, Indira Gandhi split from the parent Congress organization to form Congress (I) after the 1977 election defeat.
• The split occurred amid internal dissent and questioning of her leadership within the Congress party.
• Gandhi leveraged her personal connect with the masses, focusing on social justice and a strong centralized state under her leadership.
• She capitalized on the Janata Party government's internal rifts and public disillusionment, campaigning on issues like price rise and unemployment.
• Congress (I) performed strongly in by-elections and swept the 1980 general elections, bringing Indira Gandhi back as Prime Minister.

Why It Matters: Indira Gandhi's 1978 split and formation of Congress (I) was a strategic move that resurrected her political career.