History of Gujarat - Nav Nirman Movement 1974

Nav Nirman Movement 1974

Nav Nirman Andolan (Re-invention or Re-construction movement) was a socio-political movement that occurred in 1974 in Gujarat. It was students and middle class people's movement against economic crisis and corruption in public life. This was the first and last successful agitation after Independence of India that ousted an elected government.

On 20 December 1973, students of L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad went on strike in protest against 20% hike in hostel food bill. People from middle class and some factory workers also joined protests in Ahmedabad.People demanded Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel's resignation. Due to pressure of protests, Indira Gandhi asked Chimanbhai Patel to step down. He resigned on February 9. The governor suspended the state assembly and President’s rule was imposed. Opposition parties led stepped in with demand for dissolution of state assembly.Congress had 140 out of 167 MLAs in state assembly. The resignation of 15 Congress (O) MLAs on 16th February triggered the next phase of the agitation. Three Jan Sangh MLAs also resigned. By March, students had got 95 of 167 to resign. Morarji Desai, leader of Congress (O), went on an indefinite fast on 12 March in support of the demand. On 16 March, the assembly was dissolved bringing end to agitation.

Nav Nirman Yuvak Samiti kept demanding fresh elections and opposition parties joined campaign. Morarji Desai again went on indefinite hunger strike on 6th April, 1975 to support it. Finally Indira Gandhi gave in and fresh elections were held on 10th June and result declared on 12th June, 1975. Verdict on Indira Gandhi's electoral malpractice declared the same day which later resulted in Emergency. Meanwhile Chimanbhai Patel formed new party named Kisan Mazdoor Lok Paksh and contested on his own. Congress lost elections which won only 75 seats. Coalition of Congress (O), Jan Sangh, PSP and Lok Dal known as Janata Morcha won 88 seats and Babubhai J. Patel became Chief Minister. This government lasted nine months and president's rule imposed in March, 1976. Congress won elections in December 1976 and Madhav Singh Solanki became Chief Minister.