P251 BEEBFAX 122 Thu 31 Dec --:--/--
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.
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