Indian National Congress (Organisation)
Encyclopedia
The Indian National Congress (Organisation) or Congress (O) was a political party
in India
formed when Indira Gandhi
(then the Congress president) broke away from the leadership of the Congress Party
(which became known as Congress (I)). As Indira had control over the state machinery, her faction was recognized as the "real" INC by the Election Commission of India
, so the rump INC became known as the INC(O), or informally the "Old Congress". Kingmaker Kamaraj and later Morarji Desai
became the leader of the INC(O). The Indian National Congress (Organisation) was also occasionally referred to as the Syndicate (by its opponents).
On 12 November 1969 Indira Gandhi was expelled from the Congress party for violating the party discipline. The party finally split with Indira Gandhi setting up a rival organization, which came to be known as Congress (R) - R for Requisition. In the All India Congress Committee
, 446 of its 705 members walked over to Indira's side.
The split can in some ways be seen as a left-wing/right-wing division. Indira wanted to use a populist agenda in order to mobilize popular support for the party. The regional party elites, who formed the INC(O), stood for a more right-wing agenda, and distrusted Soviet help.
At the 1971 general election, the INC(O) won about 10% of the vote and 16 Lok Sabha
seats, against 44% of the vote and 352 seats for Indira's Congress. In 1977, their vote share was almost halved and they lost 3 seats. Later the same year, INC(O) merged with the much larger Bharatiya Lok Dal
and other parties to form the Janata Party
as a more united opposition to Indira's rule. Congress (O)'s leader Morarji Desai served as Prime Minister of India
of the Janata government from 1977 to 1979.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
formed when Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
(then the Congress president) broke away from the leadership of the Congress Party
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
(which became known as Congress (I)). As Indira had control over the state machinery, her faction was recognized as the "real" INC by the Election Commission of India
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India...
, so the rump INC became known as the INC(O), or informally the "Old Congress". Kingmaker Kamaraj and later Morarji Desai
Morarji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
became the leader of the INC(O). The Indian National Congress (Organisation) was also occasionally referred to as the Syndicate (by its opponents).
On 12 November 1969 Indira Gandhi was expelled from the Congress party for violating the party discipline. The party finally split with Indira Gandhi setting up a rival organization, which came to be known as Congress (R) - R for Requisition. In the All India Congress Committee
All India Congress Committee
The All India Congress Committee is the Presidium or central decision-making assembly of the Indian National Congress Party. It is composed of members elected from State-level Pradesh Congress Committees and can have as many as a thousand members...
, 446 of its 705 members walked over to Indira's side.
The split can in some ways be seen as a left-wing/right-wing division. Indira wanted to use a populist agenda in order to mobilize popular support for the party. The regional party elites, who formed the INC(O), stood for a more right-wing agenda, and distrusted Soviet help.
At the 1971 general election, the INC(O) won about 10% of the vote and 16 Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
seats, against 44% of the vote and 352 seats for Indira's Congress. In 1977, their vote share was almost halved and they lost 3 seats. Later the same year, INC(O) merged with the much larger Bharatiya Lok Dal
Bharatiya Lok Dal
Bharatiya Lok Dal was a political party in India. The BLD was formed at the end of 1974 through the fusion of seven parties opposed to the autocratic rule of Indira Gandhi, including the Swatantra Party, the Utkal Congress, the Bharatiya Kranti Dal, and the Socialist Party...
and other parties to form the Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
as a more united opposition to Indira's rule. Congress (O)'s leader Morarji Desai served as Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
of the Janata government from 1977 to 1979.
Leaders
- Kamaraj
- Morarji DesaiMorarji DesaiMorarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
- S Nijalingappa
- Neelam Sanjiva ReddyNeelam Sanjiva ReddyNeelam Sanjiva Reddy was the sixth President of India, serving from 1977 to 1982 and was the only person to be elected President of India unopposed....
- Atulya GhoshAtulya GhoshAtulya Ghosh was a Bengali politician and an able political organiser who had become a legend in Indian political circles. He has been described as “a wise, scholarly and honest leader who was a superb political organizer.”...
- S.K. PatilS.K. PatilS.K. Patil or Sadashiv Kanoji Patil was a former Congress leader from Maharashtra. A veteran freedom-fighter, he was a scholar and a fine orator. He was a qualified journalist. He had exceptional organising skills and strengthened the Congress organisation in Mumbai at the grassroot level. He was...
- Hitendra K DesaiHitendra K DesaiHitendra Kanaiyalal Desai was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and a leader of Indian National Congress.-Political career:As a student took leading part in debates, sports and other activities at School and College...
- Satyendra Narayan SinhaSatyendra Narayan SinhaSatyendra Narayan Sinha was an Indian statesman, participant in the Indian independence movement, and a former Chief Minister of Bihar...
- Chandra Bhanu GuptaChandra Bhanu GuptaChandra Bhanu Gupta was chief minister of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for three times. He was born in Aligarh district in 1902.-Early life:...
- Veerendra PatilVeerendra PatilVeerandra Patil was Chief Minister of Karnataka state of India twice. The first time was from 1968 - 1971; and the second time was almost 20 years later from 1989 - 1990. He was elected several times from Chincholi assembly constituency of Gulbarga district to Karnataka state legislative assembly...
- G. K. MoopanarG. K. MoopanarG.K. Moopanar was a senior Indian National Congress leader, a veteran Parliamentarian and a noted philanthropist. He was an All India Congress Committee general secretary from 1980 to 1988. G.K...
- Ramakrishna HegdeRamakrishna HegdeRamakrishna Mahabaleshwar Hegde was an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for three terms and as Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Union government.-Early life:...
- Sikander BakhtSikander BakhtSikander Bakht was a politician from India. He was one of the Indian statesman and one of tallest leaders of BJP.-Early life:...
- Chaudhary Dal SinghChaudhary Dal SinghChaudhary Dal Singh popularly known as Khunda Jhota and Paani ka Baadal, was involved in Haryana politics from 1952 to 1977, when he took unofficial retirement due to his bad health. He became the first ever Irrigation and Power Minister of Haryana in 1966. He became M.L.A. for 4 times from Jind...