History Congress Party [1885-2022]

The Indian National Congress is one of the oldest and most prominent political parties in India. Founded in 1885 by a group of educated Indians and British civil servants, it played a key role in the Indian independence movement and has been a dominant force in Indian politics since independence in 1947.

The Congress Party was established during a time of growing discontent among educated Indians, who were demanding greater participation in the government of British India. Allan Octavian Hume, a British civil servant, was the main force behind the party's formation and he was joined by other prominent leaders such as Dinshaw Wacha, Dadabhai Naoroji, Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee, Surendranath Banerjee, Monomohun Ghose and William Wedderburn.

The Congress Party quickly became a major player in the Indian independence movement, with leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Rajendra Prasad playing key roles in the struggle for freedom. Under the leadership of Gandhi, the party adopted the non-violent civil disobedience movement as a means of resistance against British rule. This peaceful struggle, which included campaigns such as the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Salt Satyagraha, ultimately led to India's independence in 1947.

After India's independence, the Congress Party became the dominant party in the Indian government, with Jawaharlal Nehru serving as the first Prime Minister of India. During Nehru's tenure, the Congress Party implemented a number of important policies and programs, including the creation of the Indian Planning Commission, the nationalization of key industries and the launch of the Green Revolution, which helped to increase agricultural productivity in India.

The Congress Party continued to be the dominant force in Indian politics for much of the post-independence period, with leaders such as Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi playing key roles in the party. However, in recent years the party has faced a number of challenges and has suffered a series of electoral defeats, particularly in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.

One of the main criticisms of the Congress Party in recent years has been its inability to address the issue of corruption. The party has been plagued by a number of high-profile corruption scandals, including the Bofors scandal, which broke out during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi, and the 2G spectrum scam, which took place during the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress Party.

In addition to corruption, the Congress Party has also been criticized for its inability to address economic issues facing the country. The party has been criticized for its lack of a clear economic vision and its failure to implement policies that would promote economic growth and job creation.

Despite these challenges, the Congress Party continues to be an important player in Indian politics and remains one of the major political parties in the country. The party has traditionally been associated with secularism, socialism and the promotion of national unity. However, in recent years it has also been trying to adapt to the changing political landscape and has been focusing on issues such as poverty, education and healthcare.

The Congress Party's ideology is based on the principles of secularism, democracy, socialism and non-violence. The party believes in the principles of social justice, equality, and inclusiveness. It believes in the empowerment of the marginalized and the underprivileged sections of the society. The party also believes in the protection of the rights of the minorities and the weaker sections of the society.

The Congress Party has been following a democratic process for the selection of its leaders. The party has a system of primary elections for the selection of its