Answer
Sergei Kirov, a prominent Soviet politician and close ally of Joseph Stalin, was assassinated in 1934. This event led to the promotion of Andrei Zhdanov, another loyal Stalinist, who assumed Kirov's position as head of the Leningrad party organization. Zhdanov's rise to power was facilitated by his unwavering support for Stalin's policies and his role in the subsequent purges that eliminated potential rivals within the party.