Who were the main contenders in the intense competition for leadership within the Congress party after the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri?

Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai

The Congress party encountered the intricate challenge of selecting its new leader once again, within the span of two years. This time, the rivalry unfolded fervently between Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi. Morarji Desai had previously held the position of Chief Minister in the Bombay state (now comprising Maharashtra and Gujarat) and had also served as a Minister at the national level.

On the other hand, Indira Gandhi, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, had previously held the presidency of the Congress party and had served as the Union Minister for Information in the Shastri cabinet. Within the party's senior ranks, a decision was made to endorse Indira Gandhi, yet this choice was not met with unanimous agreement.

To determine the outcome, a secret ballot was held among the Congress MPs. Indira Gandhi emerged victorious in this contest, having garnered the support of more than two-thirds of the party's Members of Parliament. This peaceful transition of power, in spite of the fervent competition for leadership, came to symbolize the maturity of India's democratic processes.