SUCCESSOR, POLICY IN BALANCE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30453, 29 May 1964, Page 11

SUCCESSOR, POLICY IN BALANCE

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW DELHI, May 28. A fierce “war of succession” is likely in India during the next day or two. The two main contenders for the Premiership are Mr Lal Bahadur Shastri, the 59-year-old, soft-spoken Minister Without Portfolio, and Mr Morarji Desai, aged 68, the former Minister of Finance. Mr Gulzarilal Nanda, the Senior Cabinet Minister, has been sworn in as interim Prime Minister.

Mr Nehru dropped both Mr Shastri and Mr Desai from his Cabinet last September together with four other ministers under his “party before post” plan; but he recalled Mr Shastri to the Cabinet in January as his aide. Since then Mr Shastri has been functioning as de facto Deputy-Premier. His recall was interpreted as being an indication by Mr Nehru that he wanted Mr Shastri as his successor; but Mr Nehru never said so openly. Mr Shastri’s political leanings are towards the centre of the Congress Party. PARTY FUNDS Mr Desai, on the other hand, is a Conservative and claims he enjoys the support of India’s moneyed classes, whose lavish contributions to the Congress funds is one factor in the party’s success at the polls. The new Prime Minister will be chosen by 500-odd members of the Congress Parliamentary Party. The date for their meeting is not yet known. However, the organisation wing of the party may indicate preferences and this is expected to come tomorrow at a meeting of the Congress working committee. DESAI’S CHALLENGE The majority of the members of the working committee, including Mr K. Kamraj, president of the party, will vote for Mr Shastri, according to present indications. It is expected that this will be challenged by Mr Desai, who wants the issue to be decided in a straight fight within the parliamentary party.

Before he was dropped, Mr Desai was No. 2 in Mr

Nehru’s Cabinet in order of ranking. At the time of Mr Nehru's death, Mr Shastri was number 4 in the Cabinet, but he enjoyed the confidence of Mr Nehru. Mr Nehru did not have much liking for Mr Desai because of his association with big business. Sheikh Abdullah, the “Lion of Kashmir,” who was the last world leader to have talks with Mr Nehru, yesterday cancelled his programme on hearing of the Indian leader’s death. Sheikh Abdullah, released seven weeks-ago after nearly 11 years in gaol, had talks with Mr Nehru before flying to Pakistan on Sunday. He was to spend two weeks in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, having talks with leaders including President Ayub Khan. He said in Rawalpindi on Monday he expected the President and Mr Nehru to meet in New Delhi next month in a new bid to settle the Kashmir dispute. The British "Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, said in London before leaving for Mr Nehru’s funeral that Mr Nehru was a philosopher with “great distinction of mind who cared very deeply about the affairs of ordinary people.” KHRUSHCHEV In Moscow, Mr Khrushchev went to the Indian Embassy and stood for a minute in silence before a portrait of Mr Nehru. President Johnson led the United States in mourning. The most fitting memorial to Mr Nehru would be “a world without war,” he said. Pope Paul, told of the death of Mr Nehru, went to his private chapel today to pray for him. In one of the last interviews given before his death Mr Nehru defended his decision not to nominate his successor.

He told an American interviewer, Arnold Michaelis: “If I nominated anybody, as people seem to expect, that is the shortest way to his not being that. “People would be jealous of him, dislike him. Just like Winston Churchill nominated Anthony Eden, he didn’t last long. “It is best to leave it to the people, then, who can choose . . . they’ll naturally choose within a circle of people who are close to us.” EFFECT ON LAOS Mr Nehru’s death could have a more immediate and uncertain impact on the crisis in Laos. Four Indian officials play a key role in international negotiations on Laos, and with Mr Nehru’s death they will probably mark time. India is a member of the three - nation International Control Commission for Laos and a key member of the group of 14 nations which signed Geneva accords for Laos.