Question

nstead of a troika coming to power after Lenin’s death in 1924, what happened?

There were general elections, and Stalin was able to gain power.
There was a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky, and Trotsky won.
There was a civil war, and the armed forces led by Stalin were able to prevail.
There was a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky, and Stalin won.

Answer 1

There was a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky, and Stalin won.

Stalin used his position as General Secretary to build a base in the party bureaucracy, form shifting alliances (first with Zinoviev and Kamenev, later against them), isolate Trotsky, and by the late 1920s consolidate control.