INDIA: Nehru Fights Back

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Nehru was hitting back at his political enemies. By last week, it was clear that they had overreached themselves when they tried to break his hold on the All-India Congress Party (TIME, July 30) and caused him to resign from the party's Working Committee (a sort of Congress Party Politburo). Giddy with what looked like victory, Party President Purushottamdas Tandon, who controls the largely corrupt Congress political machine, violently attacked and insulted Nehru. He had reckoned without Nehru's tremendous popularity with the Indian masses.

Public reaction throughout India was solidly in favor of Nehru. With India's first general elections scheduled for January, some Tandon henchmen began to desert the boss, switched to Nehru. Said one: "We dislike Nehru's policies. But without Nehru campaigning for us, we wouldn't get 10% of the vote."

Last week Tandon resigned as party president, explaining lamely that "Nehru is the symbol of our nation . . . I see no other way out." Then the All-India Congress Committee offered Nehru the scepter. At first he demurred, deeming it not proper for the Prime Minister to also wield the power of party president. Eventually, he permitted himself to be persuaded. Said he: "One should not be bashful . . . I cannot be a coward."

Next: 1) an open convention, on Oct. 118, of the entire All-India Congress Party—at Nehru's demand—to ratify his election to party chief; 2) a battle to the finish with Tandon, who still has a grip on the party machine, is no man to quit without a fight.