CHRONOLOGYBhindranwale killed in action); Indira Gandhi assassinated by
Sikh members of bodyguard (31 October) and succeeded by
Rajiv Gandhi; December elections won by him
1985 Budget signals change in economic policy Assam and Panjab
Accords; elections in Assam won by Asom Gana Parishad and in
the Panjab by the Akali Dal
1987 President’s Rule in the Panjab, Lok Dal wins election in
Haryana; V.P.Singh, former finance and defence minister,
deprived of Congress Party membership, becomes leader of the
opposition. Severe drought in India. Gandhi and Sri Lanka
President Jayewardene sign accord, Indian peace-keeping force
stationed in northern Sri Lanka, unable to disarm Tamil
terrorists
1988 V.P.Singh wins by-election as opposition candidate; Panjab
unrest continues, Golden Temple in Amritsar once more stormed
by Indian army
1989 Conflict with Nepal on foreign policy and migration, Indian
blockade. Sri Lanka President Premadasa issues ultimatum,
Indian troops to quit, new accord postpones this. Soviet
withdrawal from Afghanistan relieves India, but India pledged
to support Kabul regime Elections in November 1989 end in
defeat of Congress Party; Gandhi resigns, V.P.Singh forms
government
1990 Indian troops leave Sri Lanka Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal
dismissed by V.P.Singh Ramjanmabhumi campaign, BJP
President Advani heads procession to Ayodhya, arrested in Oct.,
V.P.Singh’s government falls, Chandrashekhar forms another
minority government, Nov.
1991 Chandrashekhar’s government toppled by National Congress.
Rajiv Gandhi assassinated during election campaign near
Madras, 21 May Balance of payments crisis. P.V.Narasimha
Rao forms new minority government (National Congress),
Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh introduces programme of
structural adjustment. Rupee devalued
1992 Bombay stock market scam Destruction of Babri Masjid,
Ayodhya, 6 Dec. Four BJP state governments dismissed
1993 BJP rally in New Delhi (Feb.). Narasimha Rao visits China, signs
agreement on line of actual control Elections in Himachal
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. BJP
loses votes
1994 Elections in Karnataka, won by Janata Party; Andhra Pradesh,
won by N.T.Rama Rao’s party Telugu Desam
1995 Elections in Gujarat, won by BJP, and in Maharashtra where BJP
and Shiv Sena form a coalition government
1996 Several Union cabinet ministers resign, being accused of
receiving money in illicit transactions. Advani, also accused,
quits as BJP President Federal elections, April-May, result in
hung Parliament. A.B. Vajpayee (BJP) Prime Minister, 15–27
May H.D.Deve Gowda (National Front) Prime Minister 1 June.
1997 Deve Gowda replaced by Inder Kumar Gujral as prime minister,
April