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How did Jawaharlal Nehru strengthen parliamentary democracy in India?
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Jawaharlal Nehru
As India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was in office for more than 16 years, making him the country's longest-serving prime minister.
Jawaharlal Nehru played a foundational role in establishing and strengthening parliamentary democracy in India during his tenure as the country's first prime minister from 1947 to 1964.12
He solidified this system through several key actions:
- Adoption of Parliamentary Governance: Nehru oversaw the implementation of a government model based on British parliamentary rule. This structure featured a lower house, the Lok Sabha, where the prime minister and cabinet exercised authority, and an upper house, the Rajya Sabha.3
- Commitment to Elections: Despite the challenges of a largely illiterate electorate, Nehru championed universal adult franchise. He led the Indian National Congress through multiple successful national election campaigns (1951–52, 1957, and 1962), reinforcing the democratic process as the primary means of political transition.23
- Administrative Reform: To manage the nation's linguistic diversity and maintain stability, Nehru appointed the States Reorganisation Commission. The resulting States Reorganization Act of 1956 redrew administrative boundaries to align with regional languages, helping to integrate diverse populations into the federal democratic framework.3
- Secular Leadership: By promoting secularism and speaking out against traditional caste-based hierarchies, Nehru sought to foster a modern, inclusive national identity essential for a stable democracy.2