Nehru's Last Press Conference: Succession Questions

Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, held his last press conference on May 22, 1964, just five days before he passed away.

During the conference, he was asked about his succession plan and his declining health.

Nehru humorously deflected the questions, stating that his life was not ending soon and that he did not have a specific plan for his successor.

There were discussions and suggestions from various political figures about grooming Indira Gandhi, his daughter, as his successor.

Nehru, however, avoided making any commitments.

After his death, Gulzarilal Nanda briefly served as interim Prime Minister, followed by Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Indira Gandhi later became Prime Minister in 1966, marking the beginning of the Nehru-Gandhi family's significant influence in the Congress party.