Mehta was killed in the crash. Hitendra Kanaiyalal Desai succeeded him and won assembly elections. In 1969, Indian National Congress split into Congress (O) headed by Morarji Desai and Congress (I) headed by Indira Gandhi.
Mehta's demise led to Hitendra Kanaiyalal Desai taking over and winning the assembly elections. This event marked a split in the Indian National Congress into two groups, Congress (O) and Congress (I), with Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi at their helm.