Morarji Desai - in Government

In Government

Before the independence of India, he became Bombay's Home Minister and later was elected as Chief Minister of Bombay State in 1952. The state was a bi-lingual state, home to Gujarati-speaking and Marathi-speaking people. Since the 1956, Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti led a movement for a Marathi-only speaking state of Maharashtra. A staunch nationalist himself, Morarji Desai was opposed to such movements including the Mahagujarat Movement led by Indulal Yagnik demanding a new state of Gujarat. He proposed that the metropolitan Bombay (now Mumbai) which was earlier inhabited by the Gujarati Kolis and later becoming a Marathi-majority area, be made into a union territory or a separate state to suit its cosmopolitan nature, with long-settled citizens from diverse settings across various linguistic, cultural, and religious backgrounds spanning several generations. Known for his no-nonsense administration and uprightness, he allowed police to fire on a mob of violent demonstration by the Mumbai-unit of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti at Flora Fountain as there was heavy damage caused to public property and commercial offices by the rampaging rioters in the vicinity of Bombay Stock Exchange, considered the main trading hub and financial capital. As the stock exchange was in imminent danger of being attacked, the police first fired in the air for about an hour which didn't contain the situation, later they resorted to firing directly which killed 105 rioters during the entire incident. Many Mumbaikars bore the burnt from several incidents of street violence directed at non-Marathis, until Desai brought the situation under control in three days. However he wanted a peaceful solution to the issue, and was eager to end the violence on the streets, thus later allowing bifurcation of a state on linguistic grounds (originally opposed by nationalistic leaders to counter divisive trends post-unification of the republic). After the subsequent formation of the present State of Maharashtra, Bombay (now Mumbai) became its state capital. Flora Fountain was renamed as "Hutatma Chowk" (Martyrs' Square) to commemorate the 105 men killed in the firing. Later Desai moved to Delhi as he got appointed in the cabinet.

As Home Minister, Desai outlawed any portrayals of indecency (which included "kissing" scenes) in films and theatrical productions. Being a staunch Gandhian, Desai was socially conservative, pro-business, and in favor of free enterprise reforms, as opposed to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's socialistic policies.

Rising in Congress leadership, as a fierce nationalistic and anti-corruption leanings, Desai was at odds with Prime Minister Nehru and his allies, and with Nehru's age and health failing, he was considered as a possible contender for the position of Prime Minister. Outflanked in the leadership contest after Nehru's death in 1964 by the Nehruvian Lal Bahadur Shastri, Desai remained content to build support within the ranks.

In early 1966, the unexpected passing away of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri after only 18 months in power, made Morarji Desai once again a contender for the top position. However, he was defeated by Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi in the Congress party leadership election by a narrow margin. Desai served as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister of India in the Indira Gandhi government until 1969 when Prime Minister Mrs Gandhi without consulting him took away the finance portfolio from him. at the same time, she also nationalized the fourteen biggest banks in India. These acts compelled Morarji Desai resign from the Gandhi cabinet. In the subsequent split of the Congress party, Morarji joined the Indian National Congress (Organisation) faction of the party, whereas Mrs. Gandhi's formed a new faction named Indicate Congress or Congress(I). The 1971 general elections to the Indian parliament were won by Indira Gandhi's Indicate faction in a landslide. Morarji Desai, however, was elected as a member of the Lok Sabha or lower house of Parliament. Morarji Desai again went on indefinite hunger strike on 12 March, 1975 to support Nav Nirman movement.

Allegations by Mrs. Indira Gandhi's opponents of her using Government civil servants and equipment during campaigning in the 1971 elections led to Mrs Gandhi's conviction of electoral fraud by the Allahbad High Court in 1975. During the subsequent Emergency rule in 1975-76, Morarji-bhai and other opposition leaders were put in jail by the Indira Gandhi government.

The popular anti-corruption movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan and the anti-Emergency wave in 1977 led to the complete routing of the Congress party in Northern India and a landslide victory for the opposition Janata alliance in the National elections held in March 1977. Morarji Desai was selected by the Janata alliance, later Janata Party as their parliamentary leader, and thus became the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India.