1.
SV MRS GANDHI SEES GUESTS
0.26

2.
SV MR DESAI WITH MR KAMARAJ
0.40

3.
CU PAN FROM MR. DESAI TO MR. KAMARAJ
0.48

4.
CU MR. DESAI
0.51

5.
SV & GV GROUP (2 SHOTS)
1.01



Initials GEM/V/MGT/SA



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MRS. INDIRA GANDHI, DAUGHTER OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU, TODAY BECAME INDIA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER. THE ONLY OTHER CANDIDATE WAS THE FORMER FINANCE MINISTER, MR. MORARJI DESAI, WHO LATER PROMISED TO SUPPORT MRS. GANDHI.

MRS. GANDHI STAYED QUIETLY AT HER HOME IN NEW DELHI ON EVE OF THE ELECTION OF NEW A LEADER OF THE CONGRESS PARTY TO REPLACE MR. SHASTRI. SHE CAME OUTSIDE BRIEFLY TO SEE WELL-WISHERS. HER ELECTION AS LEADER OF INDIA'S 500 MILLION PEOPLE MAKES HER ONLY THE SECOND WOMAN EVER TO BE A PRIME MINISTER. THE FIRST WAS MRS. BANADARANAIKE OF CEYLON.

THE OTHER CANDIDATE FOR THE LEADERSHIP WAS MR MORARJI DESAI, WHO WAS MR. SHASTRI'S MINISTER OF FINANCE. THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONGRESS PARTY, MR. KAMARAJ, TRIED TO PERSUADE HIM TO DROP OUT OF THE CONTEST, BUT HE REFUSED. AFTER THE ELECTION HE PLEDGED HIS FULL SUPPORT FOR MRS. GANDHI, SAYING THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO STRIVE FOR UNITY.

MRS. GANDHI IS A 48-YEAR-OLD WIDOW AND HAS TWO SONS.