What does the term ‘syndicate’ mean in the context of the Congress party of the sixties? What role did the Syndicate play in the Congress party?

What does the term ‘syndicate’ mean in the context of the Congress

1.	What does the term ‘syndicate’ mean in the context of the Congress party of the sixties? What role did the Syndicate play in the Congress party?
Answer» Syndicate was the term given to a group of powerful leaders in the Congress Party. The group was led by K. Kamraj, S. K. Patil, S. Nijalingappa, N. Sanjeeva Reddy and Atulya Ghosh. Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi were made Prime Minister with the support received from the Syndicate. This group had a decisive say in Indira Gandhi’s first cabinet and in policy formulation and implementation of the government. After the split in Congress, the leaders of the Syndicate stayed with the Congress (O) but were defeated in the subsequent General elections.