First to contest against Nehru-Gandhi family

NEW DELHI, OCT. 29. The dissident Congress leader, Mr. Jitendra Prasada, would be the first one to contest against a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family for the top party post when he fights the incumbent, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, in the November 12 election.

A quick look at the party's history shows that only four times in the post-Independence era has there been a contest for the top post.

The first tussle was in 1948 when Purushottam Das Tandon, backed by Sardar Patel defeated Acharya Kripalani, whose candidature was supported by Jawaharlal Nehru. Tandon, however, resigned a few months later as some senior leaders including Nehru declined to work in the Congress Working Committee.

The next election was in 1977 when Brahmananda Reddy, supported by Indira Gandhi, defeated Siddhartha Shankar Ray who had the backing of leaders such as Y. B. Chavan, who later formed the syndicate Congress. Mr. Karan Singh had emerged a poor third in the polls.

The next clash was in 1997 when Sitaram Kesri trounced the challenge from Mr. Sharad Pawar and the late Rajesh Pilot.

Before Independence, Subhash Chandra Bose had won against Pattabhi Sitaramayya in 1938 but resigned soon as Mahatma Gandhi, who had endorsed the latter's candidature declared it was ``my moral defeat''.

Bose resigned as senior leaders including Pandit Nehru declined to work as CWC members.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : India, Cuba to strengthen scientific ties
Next     : 'Don't change status quo of Babri masjid'