P251 BEEBFAX 122 Sun 16 Mar 00:47/23                                   considerable unofficial influence in  government. Elected Congress President  in 1959. Upon her father's death in  1964, Gandhi refused to enter Congress  party leadership contest and instead  chose to become a cabinet minister in  the government led by Lal Bahadur  Shastri. In Congress party  parliamentary leadership election held  in early 1966 upon the death of  Shastri, she defeated her rival,  Morarji Desai to become leader and  thus succeed Shastri as the prime  minister of India.    As Prime Minister, Gandhi was known  for her political ruthlessness and  unprecedented centralisation of power.   Next       Prev       Home        End