Word: desai
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...lady proved to be a determined and skilled political tactician. Suspecting that Deputy Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who is now a leading Syndicate member, would thwart her socialistic policies, Indira dismissed him from the Cabinet. Last July, in a direct test of strength, she nominated her own candidate, V. V. Giri, to run against the Syndicate's choice for the presidency of India. He won by a narrow margin...
...longtime foe of the Prime Minister's, as the Congress Party's official nominee for the presidency.* Mrs. Gandhi responded by ramming through the nationalization of 14 major Indian banks. At the same time, she forced the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Morarji Desai, a Syndicate stalwart...
...nomination. Then Indira switched her support to Food and Agriculture Minister Jagjivan Ram. The Syndicate, however, forced through the approval of Sanjiva Reddy, Speaker of the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) and a loyal Syndicate member. Indira was furious and decided to strike back directly at Finance Minister Desai, who had opposed her plan to nationalize the banks...
After a day of plotting tactics, she issued a curt announcement from the President's House stating that "Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister, shall be Minister of Finance in addition to her present charges." Stripped of the powerful Finance portfolio, the angry and embarrassed Desai quit as Deputy Prime Minister. "How can I continue?" he asked. After frantic efforts by their Cabinet colleagues and Congress Party President Nijalingappa to bring about a reconciliation, Mrs. Gandhi and Desai were coaxed to meet for an hour at week...
Their icy confrontation served only to deepen the Congress split. Desai demanded reinstatement to the Finance Ministry. Mrs. Gandhi refused. Then she proceeded to carry out her proposals herself. At week's end India's 14 largest private banks were nationalized. Stunned by the speed and force of Indira's ambush, the Syndicate made no immediate response. The party bosses may decide not to challenge her on the leadership issue since the party has already twice rejected the austere and inflexible Desai in Indira's favor because he has little voter appeal. But in the event...