Word: indira
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...ruling Congress Party has been racked by severe quarrels. Last week the party split into two rival groups, each of which claimed to be the legitimate party. One group was led by the old-line bosses, who are known collectively as the Syndicate. The other pledged its allegiance to Indira Gandhi. Under most circumstances a split in the Congress Party, whose unity in the past has helped hold the diversified country together, might have had grave effects on India's stability. As it turned out, Indira carried such a large part of the party with her that the country...
...split itself was triggered by a power struggle. Angered by Indira's attempts to oust them from control of the party machinery, the bosses took an unusual step. After frenzied discussions, they expelled Prime Minister Gandhi from Congress for refusing to obey party discipline. Accusing Indira of encouraging a "personality cult that is threatening democracy in the organization," they called upon the party to elect a new government leader...
Test of Strength. Indira, who is a highly skilled political tactician, fought back. On the same day, after a 90-minute meeting with Indira, her chief supporters issued a statement that branded the Syndicate's action as illegal. Said Indira's backers: "Democracy and discipline within the Congress Party organization have been reduced to a mockery by a small coterie equating itself to the entire organization...
...test of strength came within 48 hours. In an outpouring of support, about 220 of the Congress Party's 282 M.P.s gathered in the high-domed Central Hall of the Parliament building. A slogan greeted her: "A new light has dawned-Indira has come." In response to the thunderous welcoming ovation, Indira, who wore a brown and red sari, folded her hands in the prayer-like Indian gesture of narnaste. She pledged to "rededicate myself, to rally the people to the cause of socialism and democracy and to rejuvenate the Congress." "The Congress Party has passed through many crises...
...very gravity of the situation may cause Indira and her foes to overcome their differences, but the split has already caused damage. Even if they once more patch up their quarrel, the spectacle of the public spats can only weaken the party's appeal to India's voters...