Sessions of Indian National Congress Before Independence

In 1885, Dinshaw Edulji Wacha, Allan Octavian Hume, and Dadabhai Naoroji founded the Indian National Congress. Indian National Congress’ first session was held in Bombay from 28–30 Dec 1885 under Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee’s chairmanship.

The highest command of the Indian National Congress - INC, which is a political party in India, is designated as the President of the Indian National Congress. The president is elected by a constitutional electoral college made up of members drawn from the Pradesh Congress Committees as well as members of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). In the event of any of the emergencies because of a certain cause such as the resignation or death of the president elected, the most senior General Secretary discharges the president’s routine functions until the Working Committee appoints the provisional president pending the election of a regular president by the AICC. 

Let us look at the list of sessions of the Indian National Congress before independence in detail.

About Indian National Congress and Its Importance

The president of the party has been the national leader of the party effectively, head of the organisation of the party, the chief spokesman, head of the Working Committee and also the all chief Congress committees.

After the foundation of the party in Dec 1885, Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee became its first president. From the year 1885 - 1933, the presidency had a term of only one year. There was no such thing as a fixed term for the president after 1933. Even though Jawaharlal Nehru was always the leader of the Legislative Party, he rarely held the presidency of the INC during his government.

Despite being a party with the structure, the Congress party under Indira Gandhi did not hold any of the organisational elections after 1978. In the year 1978, Gandhi split from the INC and formed a new opposition party, which is popularly known as Congress (I), that the national election commission declared to be the real Indian National Congress for the year 1984 general election.

Following the foundation of the Congress party, Gandhi established the practice of having the same individual serve as both the Congress President and the Prime Minister of India (I). Also, her successors, named P. V. Narasimha Rao and Rajiv Gandhi, continued that practice. Nonetheless, when the Congress was re-elected in 2004, Manmohan Singh became the first Prime Minister who was not also the party's president since the president's practice of holding both offices was established.

A total count of 61 people has served as the Indian National Congress president since the party’s formation. Sonia Gandhi is the party’s longest-serving president, having held office for over 20 years from 1998 to 2017 and since 2019.

Indian National Congress Sessions

Founders of the Indian National Congress 

1 - Allan Octavian Hume, 2 - Dadabhai Naoroji, and 3 - Dinshaw Edulji Wacha, Indian National Congress - INC was founded on 28 Dec 1885. The topic is more important for UPSC Mains also.

The sessions of the list of Indian National Congress before independence with their respective Presidents are tabulated below:

This is the clear list of sessions of INC before Independence.

The Indian National Congress party was formed primarily as a safety valve for both political and civil dialogue among the literate Indians. These INC sessions are asked in multiple competitive exams. Thus, the aspirants should go through them accordingly and thoroughly.

As we have come to know the list of sessions of the Indian National Congress, let us look at some other presidents.

Some Presidents After Independence Till 2017

1968 and 1969

S. Nijalingappa was the president of INC from 1968 - 1969. He was also an important figure in the Indian independence struggle as well as the unification of Karnataka.

1970 and 1971

Jagjivan Ram was the president in 1970-71. He was commonly regarded as Babuji, a leader for the backward classes, exploited labour and untouchables. He fought to have social justice enshrined in the United States Constitution. Also, he was the youngest minister in the interim government of Nehru in 1946.

1972-74

For the past four years, Shankar Dayal Sharma has served as the president of INC. He went on to become the 9th president of India. Also, he is the recipient of the Law Award of Recognition’s Living Legends by the International Bar Association.

1975-77

Devakanta Barua served his contributions as the Congress president during the emergency from the years 1975-1977. Once, he had famously said: “India is Indira and Indira is India.” But, later, he left the side of Indira and joined the Congress (Urs) that was later rechristened Indian Congress (which is a Socialist).

1985-1991

Rajiv Gandhi was elected president of the INC in 1985, succeeding his mother (Indira Gandhi), and served until his assassination in 1991. He is the one who became the youngest Indian prime minister when he was elected to the post when he was 40. His presidency was marred by scandals such as the Shah Bano case, the Bhopal gas tragedy, and the Bofors scam, all of which contributed to Congress' defeat in 1989.

Also, in 1987, he blocked the coup in the Maldives, antagonising groups like PLOTE, which had sent peace corps to Sri Lanka that resulted in direct conflict with the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He was the husband of Sonia Gandhi and the younger brother of Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi.

1992-96

PV Narsimha Rao was Congress president from 1992 - 1996. He was also the country's first prime minister from the south. He oversaw the liberalisation of India’s economy under his tenure.

1996-1998

Sitaram Kesri served from 1996-1998, electing as a president. He was the most controversial exit from the party.