Prepared by,

R. S. Harshil
Indian National Congress
 Set up in 1885 by Englishman Alan Hume, Allan Octavian
Hume in Mumbai, Dadabhai Naoroji and
Dinshaw Wacha
 Many Indians joined the Congress, particularly
professional people
 The Congress was split into two major factions:
 Moderates and Extremists
 Moderates: wanted the British to conduct a more enlightened
rule by improving education and opening up more places for
Indians in the administration
 Extremists: held a much more radical view; they were far
more critical of the Raj and were willing to use violence to
achieve their goals

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Aim and Objectives of the Congress
 Promotion of the friendship among the countrymen.
 Development and consolidation of feeling of national
unity
 Irrespective of race, caste, religion and provinces
 Formation of popular demands and presentation
before the Government through petitions
 Training and organisation of public opinion
 Consolidation of sentiments of national unity.
 Recording of the opinions of educated classes on
pressing problems

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INC – Before Independence
 During this phase, it functioned not so much as a
political party than as a forum for Indians and their
British supporters to express to the colonial authorities
their views, opinions and to assert India’s right to self-
determination

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INC – After Independence
 After independence in 1947, it became the nation's
dominant political party, in power from 1947 until 1977,
then from 1980 to 1999, 1991 to 1996 and winning the 2004
general election.
 In the 14th Lok Sabha (2004-2009), 145 INC members, the
largest contingent amongst all parties, served in the house.
 Famous members include Annie Besant, its first woman
INC President, Mahatma Gandhi (President in 1924) and
Sarojini Naidu, the first Indian woman President (1925) and
the first woman State Governor and India’s first woman
Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.

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Why Congress failed in 2014?
 Failure to communicate with voters
 Lack of transparency within party
 No leadership hierarchy
 Corruption and scams