The true challenge faced by Indira Gandhi did not originate externally from the opposition, but rather emerged from her own party's ranks. Within her party, she encountered the "syndicate," an assemblage of influential and potent leaders. This group had played a pivotal role in the process of electing Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister, securing her position as the leader of the parliamentary party. The members of the Syndicate anticipated that Indira Gandhi would heed their counsel. However, over time, Indira Gandhi embarked on a journey to establish her authority within both the government and the party. She surrounded herself with a circle of trusted advisors from outside the party, and through a gradual and meticulous approach, she diminished the influence of the Syndicate.

Why did the power and prestige of the Syndicate leaders diminish after 1971?

The Congress (R) led by Indira Gandhi won the popularity contest (elections).

The Syndicate, an informal faction within the Congress, was a cluster of influential leaders responsible for managing the party's organization. Under the leadership of K. Kamraj, who was both a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Congress party's president, the Syndicate comprised notable State figures like S. K. Patil from Bombay city (now Mumbai), S. Nijalingappa from Mysore (now Karnataka), N. Sanjeeva Reddy from Andhra Pradesh, and Atulya Ghosh from West Bengal. Both Lal Bahadur Shastri and, later, Indira Gandhi owed their positions to the support granted by the Syndicate. This assemblage wielded substantial authority in forming Indira Gandhi's initial Council of Ministers and in shaping and executing policies. Post the division of the Congress, the Syndicate leaders and their adherents remained with the Congress (O). However, due to Indira Gandhi's Congress (R) emerging victorious in the popularity contest, these prominent and influential figures of Indian politics experienced a decline in their power and status following 1971.