To what extent was the political authority exercised by Stalin and Khrushchev similar?

Introduction: The political authority exercised by Stalin and Khrushchev, which can be defined as the extent of control over opposition and security of their position varied greatly between Stalin and Khrushchev. This polarity is most evident in the level of control over the Bolshevik Party, as Stalin exercised dictatorial control through coercion and fear, whereas Khrushchev organised more of a 'partocracy' in which the political control of the nation was decentralised to a minor extent. A further area of difference includes the level of control over wider society, Stalin certainly exercised greater influence in this aspect due to the imposition of terror in order to maintain political order and quell any uprisings. However, one must note that Stalin and Khrushchev share some similarities, notably in their origins of power. Both leaders used tactical alliances to further their own political careerism and denounce opposition within the party. However on the whole, the political authority of the two leaders varied noticeably, with Stalin exercised greater levels of this measurement as a result of his coercive methods to keep power.
Example Paragraph (Main Body Essay):The area in which the political authority of Stalin and Khrushchev varied most was in their level of control over the party. The tyrannical nature of Stalin's leadership is aptly represented by the fact that between 1933-35, Stalin purged 18% of the communist party, driven by paranoia of political uprisings. This reached an apex in the years 1936-38, known as the 'Great Terror'. By the year 1938, 70% of the Central Committee had been shot. On the contrary, Khrushchev implemented policies such as 'Rule 25', which limited the time officials could remain in office, which prevented any leaders creating a safety net of long term support, vying for socialism as envisaged under Lenin, as opposed to the dictatorial Stalin. Therefore, it is evident that Stalin's political authority was far greater than Khrushchev's with regard to control over the party.