The reasons responsible for the congress spilt were :
i. (A ) Indira Gandhi’s growing differences with the Syndicate: The Syndicate had played an important role in the installation of Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister by ensuring her elections as the leader of the parliamentary party. These leaders expected Indira Gandhi to follow their advice but Indira Gandhi gradually attempted to assert her position within the party and chose her trusted group of advisors from outside the party. She stated sidelining syndicate.
(B) She got the congress working committee accept the Ten Point programme in May 1967.while the syndicate leaders formally approved this left wing programme , they had serious reservations about the same.
(C) Morarji Desai resigned as Deputy PM and Finance Minister, as serious differences arose between The two leaders over Indira Gandhi’s decision of abolition of “Privy purse” and several other big socialist measures and her encouragement to V V. Giri to file his nomination for Presidential elections.
(ii) Immediate cause : Presidential elections ,1969:
(a) The post of President of India fell vacant in 1969 after the death of Zakir Hussain. Despite Mrs. Gandhi’s reservation, Syndicate managed to nominate her long time opponent, N. Sanjeeva Reddy, as the official candidate for the ensuing Presidential elections. Indira Gandhi retaliated by encouraging the then Vice President V.V.Giri to file his nomination as an Independent candidate.
(b) Despite syndicate’s resistance, the PM openly called for a “conscience vote” which meant that MPs and MLAs should be free to vote the way they want.
(c) The elections ultimately resulted in the victory of V.V.Giri, the independent candidate and the defeat of Sanjeeva Reddy, the Official Congress candidate. This led to the spilt of the congress into two partiesCongress (R) and Congress (o).
