Question

What is the meaning of 'Syndicate'?

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In the context of Indian politics, the "Syndicate" refers to a group of powerful, senior Congress party leaders from different states who worked together informally to influence major decisions inside the Congress party during the 1960s.

Step 2: How it worked.
This group of state-level Congress bosses played a decisive role in choosing Prime Ministers after Nehru, including backing Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi, expecting to keep influencing government decisions from behind the scenes.

Final Answer:
The Syndicate was an informal group of senior Congress leaders who controlled the party's organisation and influenced the choice of leadership in the 1960s.