Question

The immediate cause of the split in the INC at its Surat Session was __________.
A)Election of the President to the INC
B)Expulsion of Tilak from INC
C)Demand of Swaraj as the goal of the INC
D)Resolutions on Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott and National Education.

Answer 1

Hint: The Surat Session of the Indian National Congress in 1907 is infamously known as the Surat Split. The Congress leaders split into two due to growing differences between the Moderates and Extremist factions within the Congress. Due to the political atmosphere created by the Partition of Bengal, a section of Political activists known as the Extremists started to become increasingly dissatisfied with the methods adopted by the moderate leadership.

Complete Step by Step answer: The political activities of the period of 1885-1907 was largely dominated by Moderate leaders. They used petitions, prayers, meetings, leaflets, pamphlets, memorandum and delegations to further their demands. Due to their relative failure in causing any conclusive change as well as the political atmosphere created by the Partition of Bengal, a section of Political activists known as the Extremists started to become increasingly dissatisfied with the methods adopted by the moderate leadership. Due to widening of these differences the Congress party split into two factions at Surat in 1907. The immediate cause of the split was the election of Raja Berari Ghosh as the President of the INC, therefore A is correct.
OPTION A - In 1907, as opposed to the demands of the Extremists who wanted either Lala Lajpat Rai of Bal Gangadhar Tilak to be elected as President, Raja Berari Ghosh was chosen as President by the Moderates. This finalised the split within the Congress.
OPTION B - After the split, the extremist faction led by the Lal-Bal-Pal trivulate was expelled from Congress, however this was an after effect of the split rather than a cause.
OPTION C - Swaraj was declared as the goal of the National Movement by Dadabhai Naraoji at the Calcutta Session of Congress in 1906, it had been done to reduce the growing influence of the Extremists. However the meaning of Swaraj as elaborated was changed so as to not antagonise the colonial government. This would go on to be an important factor leading to the Surat Split but not the immediate factor.
OPTION D -The Extremist faction wanted to pass resolutions on Boycott and Swadeshi Movement as well as National Movement, however this was not supported by the Moderate leadership. This was also an important factor leading up to the split.

Hence, The correct answer is Option A.

Note: There were multiple causal factors leading up to the split, however the immediate reason for the split was the election of Rash Berari Ghosh as President of the INC against the wishes of the Extremists was the final straw in the match. The other factors mentioned had simply facilitated the building up of differences.