By tracing the path of the Congress Party's development since independence, the author demonstrates the reasons for its success. A postscript deals with the 1967 elections, regarded as a turning point in post-independence Indian politics. Originally published in 1968. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

"In May 2006 Fiji held its tenth general election since independence in 1970. In a country with an unenviable history of electoral trauma, the mood was apprehensive - not least because of controversial public statements against the incumbent Qarase government being made by the commander of Fiji's military forces. Despite a record number of parties and candidates, the winners were the heavily church-backed SDL, the party of choice of the majority of indigenous Fijians; and the Fiji Labour Party, the party preferred by most Indo-Fijians. Although the result was ethnically polarized, for the first time in Fijian history the successful candidates came together to share power in a constitutionally ordained multiparty Cabinet, with Qarase retaining the prime ministership. But the fragile collaboration was short-lived. On 5 December, Commodore Bainimarama ordered a military take-over, ousting the elected government and replacing it with an 'interim' government of his choice. With contributions from ex-Vice President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, leader of the Fiji Labour Party and now interim Minister for Finance Mahendra Chaudhry, and an impressive array of leading commentators on Fijian affairs, this book provides a comprehensive, penetrating analysis of the lead-up to, the outcome and the aftermath of Fiji's historic 2006 election - including the December coup. Shedding light on the complex weave of traditional chiefly systems, race relations, economics, constitutionality, the military ethos and religion, From Election to Coup in Fiji is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Fiji, the South Pacific and the politics of divided societies."--Publisher.