The party system in India appeared like a two-party system in 1977 because the opposition parties realised the need to avoid division of non-Congress votes. They came together under the strategy of 'non-Congressism' and united against the Congress party. The Congress had also shed its character as an umbrella party and identified itself with a particular ideology, claiming to be the only socialist and pro-poor party. This created a sharp division in electoral politics.

Although many parties existed in 1977, the authors describe this period as close to a two-party system because the electoral contest became essentially bipolar. The opposition parties united to avoid splitting votes among themselves, making it a direct contest between Congress and non-Congress forces. The 'non-Congressism' strategy brought diverse parties together, and party competition became bitter and polarised. Thus, despite multiple parties, the electoral dynamics functioned like a two-party system.

The Congress party split because it had been shedding its character as an umbrella party since 1969. It now identified with a particular ideology, claiming to be the only socialist and pro-poor party. Politics became too personalised, with governmental authority being converted into personal authority under Indira Gandhi. The Janata Party split due to internal convulsions and instability. The experience of 1977-79 showed that governments seen as unstable and quarrelsome are severely punished by voters.