11 January - Gulzarilal Nanda appointed as the acting Prime Minister of India in 1966

 

Gulzarilal Nanda served as the acting Prime Minister of India on two occasions.

After the sudden demise of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on 11 January 1966, Gulzarilal Nanda was appointed as the Acting Prime Minister of India. He took on this role until 24 January 1966. Nanda, who was also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs at the time, temporarily assumed the responsibilities of the Prime Minister until a new Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was elected by the Indian National Congress party.

It's worth noting that Gulzarilal Nanda had previously served as the Acting Prime Minister in 1964 as well, following the death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, before Lal Bahadur Shastri assumed office. Nanda played a crucial role in maintaining stability during these transitional periods in Indian politics.