The fight for power after Shastri: How Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India (file photo)
Digital Dusk, New Delhi. After the sudden death of India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the country was once again going through a leadership crisis. Lal Bahadur Shastri died on 11 January 1966, just hours after the Tashkent Agreement. In such a situation, the biggest question before the Congress Party was who would be the next Prime Minister of the country? From here begins the story of Indira Gandhi coming to power, which later changed the direction of Indian politics.
Search for successor after Shastri's death
When Jawaharlal Nehru died on 27 May 1964, Gulzarilal Nanda was made the interim Prime Minister. Similarly, after Shastri's death in 1966, Nanda once again included himself in the race for the post of Prime Minister. However, the real contest was limited to two names: Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai. Even before this, Desai had lost to Shastri in the race to become Prime Minister.
Congress President K. This time Kamaraj was fully committed to making Indira Gandhi the Prime Minister. He told a colleague that Indira Gandhi had seen the world, grew up among great leaders, had modern thinking and was capable of winning the 1967 elections.
Support of Chief Ministers and MPs
Only MPs had to vote in the election of the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), but the moral support of the Chief Ministers was considered very important. Of. Kamaraj and DP Mishra together ensured the support of most of the Chief Ministers in favor of Indira Gandhi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Sucheta Kripalani was definitely against Indira, but most of the MPs of the state were with her.
Due to lack of consensus, voting was held on 19 January 1966. Before voting, Indira Gandhi went to Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and remembered her father Nehru by going to Teen Murti Bhawan.
Decisive victory and the post of Prime Minister
In the counting of votes, Indira Gandhi got 355 votes, while Morarji Desai got 169 votes. In this way Indira Gandhi won by 186 votes. On 24 January 1966, Indira Gandhi was sworn in as the third Prime Minister of India.
Lok Sabha elections were held a year later in 1967. Congress got 283 seats, which was much less than in 1962. Many veteran leaders lost the elections, including K. Kamaraj was also included. But Indira Gandhi won from Rae Bareli with a huge vote.
Agreement with Morarji Desai
Even after the elections, the old Congress leaders wanted to weaken Indira Gandhi and an attempt was made to promote Morarji Desai. However, Indira Gandhi, showing political wisdom, decided to give Desai the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. Desai wanted the Home Ministry, but Indira Gandhi, in view of the economic challenges, assigned him the Finance Ministry. This decision averted immediate conflict in the party and the government remained stable.
The next big challenge before Indira Gandhi was the Presidential elections. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's tenure was ending and Indira Gandhi did not want to give him a second term. He made Vice President Dr. Zakir Hussain the presidential candidate. This decision was based on merit and not due to any communal consideration. Morarji Desai initially supported this decision, but this proved to be his last major collaboration with Indira Gandhi.
Congress split and Indira's strength
Congress split in 1969, but Indira Gandhi emerged stronger. Mid-term elections were held in 1971, in which Congress won a thumping majority by winning 352 seats. Steps like 1971 war, creation of Bangladesh, Green Revolution and poverty alleviation were the major achievements of his tenure.
Indira Gandhi has been criticized for imposing Emergency in 1975 and Operation Blue Star in 1984. Supporters say that these decisions were a compulsion in the circumstances of that time. The assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984 shocked the entire country. His supporters believe that he sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of the country. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had said that Indira Gandhi's determination and vision are still visible in India.
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