156 HIS MAJESTY’S OPPONENT
the Congress president to be a mere tool in the hands of the Working
Committee. On the question of intra- party democracy, he was of the
opinion that “to have a proper election of the delegates and not nomi-
nation by a group within the Working Committee,” it was “essential
that the delegates have a free and unfettered choice.” “If this freedom is
not guaranteed to them,” he warned, “then the constitution of the Con-
gress will cease to be a democratic one.”^46
The democratic verdict of the delegates from the provinces, after an
unprecedented electoral contest, was delivered on January 29, 1939.
Subhas sipped tea in a relaxed mood at a party to celebrate the wed-
ding of Sarat’s eldest son, and commented on the early trends as the
results from different parts of the country started pouring in. As the
outcome became clearer, he moved to 38/2 Elgin Road. “We are win-
ning” rather than “I am winning” is what he told visitors and callers on
the telephone.^47 The final tally showed that Subhas Chandra Bose had
emerged victorious by 1,580 votes to Pattabhi Sitaramayya’s 1,375. As
was to be expected, Bengal had voted decisively for Bose, while Guja-
rat and Andhra had gone Sitaramayya’s way. Among the major prov-
inces, Bose had carried the United Provinces, Punjab, and Assam in the
north, and Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu in the south.^48 The re-
gional spread of his support was impressive. The Bose headquarters
were flooded with congratulatory telegrams from all parts of the coun-
tr y.^49 For the first time in two de cades Gandhi’s authority had been
successfully challenged within the Indian National Congress.
The Mahatma was not pleased at this turn of events. Since he had
been “instrumental in inducing Dr. Pattabhi not to withdraw his name
as a candidate,” he acknowledged on January 31 that “the defeat is
more mine than his.” It was clear to him that the delegates did “not ap-
prove of the principles and policy” for which he stood. “I rejoice in this
defeat,” proclaimed Gandhi. And then with uncharacteristic peevish-
ness, he added: “After all, Subhas babu is not an enemy of his country.
He has suf fered for it.” Bose, in his public response on February 4, said
he was pained to see that Mahatma Gandhi had taken the election re-
sult as “a personal defeat,” and he would “respectfully differ” on that
point. Though he had occasionally disagreed with Gandhi on public
questions, he would “yield to none” in his respect for the Mahatma. “It