For a long time the Congress had a presence in almost all states. Pandit Nehru could have garnered much more power than he actually had; but he was keen on nourishing various parliamentary practices and traditions. To his credit, he also laid down the institutional foundation. All this started disintegrating after him. Indira Gandhi became strong after 1971 election but the Congress started losing strength as an organisation. Total domination by Indira Gandhi undermined the party. It received a massive mandate after her assassination, but it was the result of a sympathy wave.