Why did Trotsky not become the new leader of the Bolshevik party after Lenin's death?

When Lenin died on the 21st of January 1924 many thought that Trotsky was his natural successor as the leader of the Bolshevik party. However, even prior to Lenin's death, Stalin was building his power base, which ultimately would allow him lead the Bolshevik party. In October 1927, Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev were expelled from the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party of Soviet Russia. Under pressure from the Central Committee, Zinoviev and Kamenev agreed to sign …

…did not suit the position in 1924 where the bureaucrats held so much power. He did not like to deal with bureaucrats as he was a theorist. Stalin outmanoeuvred Trotsky at every turn, developing clever alliances and using them to his advantage. Trotsky was defeated by a unbelievably cruel and ruthless man who would go onto become one of the most evil dictators in modern history. Trotsky was thrown to the waste bin of history. 4045 words