According to the author, Nehru led a party formation that was federal, democratic and ideological. In contrast, Indira Gandhi transformed the Congress into a highly centralised and undemocratic party organisation. Her strategy marked a shift towards populist politics, where political ideology was reduced to a mere electoral discourse using slogans that were not intended to be translated into actual government policies.

The author states that the Congress party 'died' in the seventies because it ceased to function as a robust political organisation. Amidst the electoral victories, the party lost its earlier character and became reliant on populist politics. The slogans used were not meant for policy implementation, and the new Congress lacked the capacity to absorb all tensions and conflicts that the earlier system was known for, leading to the shrinkage of democratic expression.

The change in the Congress party and the resulting political environment significantly impacted other political parties. The context notes that the Congress faced challenges from an opposition that was more powerful and less divided than before. Additionally, most non-Congress coalition governments in the States did not survive for long, losing their majority, which indicates that the opposition struggled to maintain stability against the new Congress approach.