Introduction:

With the already existing nationalistic feeling combined with Gan-dhi’s popularity the Congress became a forceful mass organization in the country, bringing together millions of people by specifically working against caste differences, untouchability, poverty, and reli-gious and ethnic boundaries. Although predominantly Hindu, it had members from virtually every religion, ethnic group, economic class and linguistic group.

IDEOLOGY: Populism

Indian Nationalism

Social liberalism

Democratic socialism

Social democracy

Secularism

Economic ideology of the INC emphasized on the importance of the public sector aimed at establishing a "socialistic pattern of society".

The Indian National Congress is a major political party in India. Founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji etc, the Indian National Congress became the leader of the Indian Independence Movement.

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After independence in 1947, it became the nation’s dominant political party, led by the Nehru-Gandhi family for the most part, major challenges for party leadership have only recently formed.the party has enjoyed a prominent place in Indian politics, ruling the country for 48 of the 60 years since independence in 1947.

Wyomesh Chandra Bannerjee was the first President of the INC. The first meeting was scheduled to be held in Pune, but due to a plague outbreak there, the meeting was later shifted to Bombay. The first session of the INC was held from 28–31 December 1885, and was attended by 72 delegates.

The object of the Indian National Congress is the well-being and advancement of thepeople of India and the establishment in India, by peaceful and constitutional means,of a Socialist State based on Parliamentary Democracy in which there is equality ofopportunity and of political, economic and social rights and which aims at worldpeace and fellowship.

Ideology/ manifesto: The Congress is a political party that derives its strength and support from, and appeals to, each and every section of our variegated society. [It is a only political party that has provided for reservations in its organization for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, 0BCs minorities and women.]

The party supports family planning with birth control but opposes elective abortion, in particular sex selective abortions and late term abortions.

Social ideology:

Social ideology of the INC is based on Gandhian concept of Sarvodaya . In particular INC gives special emphasis on the welfare of the economi-cally and socially disadvantaged sections of the society.

This includes “affirmative action” reservations for weaker sections of the society in education and employment, em-phasis on employment generation for rural population

Economic ideology:

• The Congress is the only party whose philosophy on governance is rooted in democratic values, combining sustainable economic growth with social justice, and marrying economic liberalization to social liberalism

A few years down the line, the demands of INC became more radi-cal in the face of constant opposition from the government, and the party became very active in the independence movement. By 1907 the party was split into two halves: the Garam Dal and the Naram Dal distinguished by their attitude towards the British.

With the rise of Mahatma Gandhi’s popularity and his Satyagraha art of revolution came.

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