Question

Show with the help of two examples that Indira Gandhi did not bow down to the power of the Syndicate and took bold steps to sideline the Syndicate.

Answer 1

The following are two examples of how the former Prime Minister, late Ms. Indira Gandhi, did not submit to the power of the Syndicate and took aggressive actions to undermine it:

1. In 1967, the late Ms. Indira Gandhi began to slowly withdraw support from the Syndicate. She started a set of measures that were aimed at the left. In May 1967, she convinced the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to adopt a Ten-Point Programme.
2. In 1969, she nominated VV Giri, a candidate other than the official Congress nominee, N. Sanjeeva Reddy. Indira Gandhi appealed for a “conscience vote,” and VV Giri eventually won the poll.
3. She also announced significant and popular policy measures, such as bank nationalization and the elimination of the Privy Purse incentive, against objections from Morarji Desai, the then-Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister.