Describe any one important events that …

The major issue which led to the split of the Congress party in 1969 was the presidential elections held in 1969. Although the rivalry between Indira Gandhi and the syndicate in the Congress party was going on for some time, yet it came out into the open at the time of the Presidential election. Due to president Zakir Hussain’s death, the office of the President fell vacant. Despite Mrs. Gandhi’s reservations the syndicate managed to nominate her long time opponent N. Sanjeeva Reddy as the official congress candidate. On the other hand, Indira Gandhi encouraged the then vice President VV Giri to file his nomination as an independent.

The then Congress President S. Nijalingappa issued a whip asking all the Congress MPs and MLAs to vote for Reddy. Supporters of Indira Gandhi requisitioned a special meeting of all India Congress committee, but this was refused. After prime minister Indira Gandhi called for a “conscience vote”, which meant MPs and MLAs were free to vote the way they wanted. The election resulted in the victory of VV Giri and the defeat of the official candidate Reddy.

The defeat of Sanjeeva Reddy formalised the split in the Congress. The Congress President expelled the prime minister Indira Gandhi from the party. Thus the Congress party was split into Congress ( R) and Congress (O).