Question

Who was elected the president of Indian National Congress in the famous Tripuri session of 1939?
A) Pattabhi Sitaramayya
B) Sarat Chandra Bose
C) Subhash Chandra Bose
D) J.L. Nehru

Answer 1

Hint:The chosen candidate was one of the rare and bold freedom fighters who attempted to help India attain its independence from British rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

Complete answer:
The Annual Session of Congress at Tripuri was held on 10th March 1939. Tripuri is a small village in the Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, then known as Central Province. It saw quite a series of nominations and withdrawals of various candidates from the post of Congress President.

In the options given below, we’ll find the answer to the asked question:
> Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya was nominated as the final candidate by Gandhi when his previous choices declined the offer or withdrew their candidature from the elections. Pattabhi did contest the elections but he didn’t emerge victorious. Thus, the answer is incorrect.
> Sarat Chandra Bose was the elder brother of Subhash Chandra Bose and also an eminent Indian barrister and freedom struggle activist. He didn’t even file his candidature for the post of President of Congress so it is natural he couldn’t be elected as one. Thus, this is a wrong choice.
> Subhash Chandra Bose is the right answer. He applied for the post of President and defeated Gandhi’s candidate Dr. Sitaramayya. He was also the leader of Indian National Army.
> This would be an incorrect choice. Though Nehru was the first choice of Gandhi for the President’s post, Nehru declined the offer and named another prominent leader of Congress, Maulana Azad.

The correct answer is Option C

Additional information
For the 1939 elections of Congress presidentship, Subhash C. Bose announced his candidature while being quite aware that he would face opposition. During this period, Nehru was holidaying in Europe. Upon his return in 1938, Gandhi suggested he should announce his name for the post. However, Nehru refused and instead vouched for Maulana Azad (even Maulana Azad withdrew his name). Finally, Gandhi put forward Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya. January 29, 1939 was the day results were declared and contrary to everyone’s expectations, Subhash won. He secured 1580 votes against 1377 votes secured by Sitaramayya.

Note:Subhash C Bose was re-elected the President of INC in 1939. He put forward the demand to the Congress that it should deliver a six month ultimatum to Britain and in the wake of its rejection suggested a country-wide struggle for ‘Poorna Swaraj’. But after his request went unheeded he resigned in April 1939.