seats in the Lok Sabha, performing significantly better than had the united Congress in
1967.
By contrast, the branch of the Congress dominated by the Syndicate, the
Congress (O), performed quite poorly. No longer dependent on the communists, the
Syndicate, or the Congress left-wing for her position, Indira Gandhi exercised a level of
power that her father never could have imagined.
No doubt thinking of her recent confrontation with the Syndicate, Gandhi moved
quickly after the split to establish her control over the Congress (R).
the prime minister allow herself to be challenged by independently powerful party leaders
at the apex of the Congress. To that end, she ensured that all Congress presidents would
be close associates and unlikely to criticize her openly. Indeed, after her strength was
reinforced by the successful 1971 elections, Gandhi made sure that holders of that high
office would have no political base and would be totally dependent on her largess.
Further, to prevent any future Congress president from transforming the position into a
source of independent power, Prime Minister Gandhi ensured that no one would hold the
office for long. Five different individuals held the presidency between 1969 and 1975.
In 1972, the prime minister pushed one of her closest associates, Jagjivan Ram, out of the
Congress presidency and replaced him with D. Sanjivayya, a party leader with no
independent base. Although Ram had proven his loyalty during the Congress split, Indira
Gandhi very likely perceived his strong base among scheduled castes as a threat.
With her control of the Congress presidency ensured, Gandhi could select one-
half of the members of the Congress Working Committee quite directly. She also
exercised great influence over the remaining members, who were elected by the AICC,
by regulating the selection of candidates.
With the CWC in her pocket, Gandhi was
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Convention