Mrs Gandhi’s Choice As P.M. Closer

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 11

Mrs Gandhi’s Choice As P.M. Closer

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) NEW DELHI, Jan. 17. India's political big guns came to bear today on the only candidate standing before Mrs Indira Gandhi’s campaign to become the nation’s next Prime Minister, the Associated Press reported.

Mrs Gandhi, the 48-year-old daughter of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, has already received such formidable support that two leading contenders decided to drop out of the race. But Mr Morarji Desai, Right-wing leader in the governing Congress Party, says

he will fight Mrs Gandhi until the last moment on Wednesday. when the final decision is to be made. On that day the Congress Party members of Parliament will elect a new Parliamentary majority leader. The leader automatically is asked to form a new Government. Some of India's most powerful politicians have told Mr Desai that his cause is hopeless and that by persist-

ing he is only damaging the party. Mr Desai, however, insists he will surprise Mrs Gandhi by drawing support from Congress Party leaders angry at the way huge blocks of votes were thrown to her on Saturday by the party president, Mr Kamaraj. Mr Kamaraj announced on that day that “almost all" State Chief Ministers favoured Mrs Gandhi. (Mrs Gandhi's Views. P 7)