Explained : How a rare Congress contest made Indira Gandhi PM in 1966 and Its Impact

On January 19, 1966, the Central Hall of Parliament — where India’s Constitution had been adopted — witnessed an unprecedented event in post-Independence politics. For the first time since 1947, the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) elected its leader through a full-fledged contest. The four-hour process culminated in the election of Indira Gandhi, then 48, making her India’s first woman Prime Minister.

According to The Times of India, Gandhi was cheered as she entered the hall, dressed in a white sari with a light brown shawl. When the returning officer announced her victory, the Central Hall echoed with applause. The outcome marked not only a personal milestone but also a significant moment in the Congress party’s internal politics, setting a precedent for how leadership succession could be decided.

The leadership contest followed the sudden death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent earlier that month. With the post vacant once again, Gulzarilal Nanda took over as acting Prime Minister.

Indira Gandhi, the only daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, entered the race with prior experience as information and broadcasting minister under Shastri and as Congress president in 1960. Despite her lineage, the succession was not smooth. While chief ministers from 11 of India’s then 16 states publicly backed her just days before the vote, another senior leader, Morarji Desai, chose to contest the leadership.

Desai insisted on a ballot, alleging that MPs were under pressure to support a particular candidate and arguing that chief ministers should not influence the CPP’s choice. Congress president K Kamaraj attempted to avoid a contest but maintained that, in a federal system, the views of state leaders were relevant.

On the eve of the vote, Desai told reporters that MPs were “not dumb cattle” and said he had evidence of pressure, though he declined to provide details. As the voting day approached, political activity in New Delhi intensified, with chief ministers meeting MPs and journalists gathering outside the residences of key नेताओं.
On January 19, a record 526 Congress MPs assembled in the Central Hall. Desai arrived first, greeting members, followed shortly by Gandhi. During nominations, Desai was proposed by K Hanumanthaiya, while Gandhi’s candidature was proposed by acting Prime Minister Nanda and seconded by Sanjiva Reddy.Counting continued through the afternoon amid speculation and false reports of results. Around 3 pm, the returning officer declared Gandhi elected. She secured 355 votes against Desai’s 169, nearly 68% of the valid votes — a two-thirds majority.

Following the announcement, both candidates shook hands and posed for photographers. Crowds gathered outside Parliament House and later cheered as Gandhi went to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President S Radhakrishnan to form a new government.

Desai said he would cooperate but expressed hope that an atmosphere of fearlessness would prevail in party and public life. At her first press conference, Gandhi rejected suggestions of unfair practices in the election, stating that such insinuations were unjustified.

Reactions came from across India and abroad. C Rajagopalachari said Gandhi could be more broad-minded and closer to Nehru’s outlook. Women’s organisations welcomed the development. Internationally, the Soviet news agency Tass reported the result within minutes, and Lord Mountbatten described her election as one likely to have a stabilising effect on India.

Addressing MPs later that day, Kamaraj said the party had elected Gandhi to shoulder the responsibility of leading the country.With inputs from TOI