Lal Bahadur Shastri on his successors after death!

Lal Bahadur Shastri on his successors after death!

·         First choice was Indira if died in two years followed by Y. B. Chavan 

·         Morarji never forgave Kuldip Nayar for spoiling his chance to be PM

Dr.Hari Desai writes weekly column “Heritage History” for “Asian Voice”, the newsweekly of ABPL Group, London 20-26 July 2019 You may read the full text on www.rashtra-vimarsh.com and comment.

·         · Some raise fingers at his Information and Broadcasting Minister Indira Gandhi but Morarji Desai, an outspoken Gandhian who was an arch critic of Shastri and Indira both, records in his autobiography “The Story of My Life” (Volume II): “He (Shastri) had had two heart attacks before this. Several doubts and suspicions have been expressed in many quarters with regards to his death. But looking to all the circumstances, I do not find any ground for these doubts. I do not believe in the allegations that he did not die a natural death but was murdered.”

·         · Nehru’s weakness was his daughter, Indira Gandhi. He may have denied in the public, but in reality he wanted her to succeed him. Despite everyone knowing Indira to be Nehru’s choice as his successor, Morarji was her staunchest opponent. Shastri aspired to be the PM. Thanks to Morarji calling her ‘that chit of a girl’ and rejecting a consensus name, Congress President K. Kamraj preferred Shastri. 

·        · During Janata rule even when External Affairs Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee proposed Kuldip’s name as India’s Ambassador to Rome or when Home Minister Charan Singh wanted to appoint Nayar as joint Governor for Punjab and Haryana, PM Desai stood in the way and vetoed both the proposals!