Indian National Congress: Difference between revisions

|president        = [[Mallikarjun Kharge]]<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mallikarjun-kharge-wins-congress-presidential-elections-set-to-become-first-non-gandhi-head-of-party-in-24-years/articleshow/94961760.cms |title=Mallikarjun Kharge wins Congress Presidential elections, set to become first non-Gandhi head of party in 24 years - The Economic Times |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=3 June 2021 |accessdate=2022-10-21}}</ref><ref name="thehindu1">{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-president-poll-mallikarjun-kharge-set-to-be-partys-new-chief-polls-over-7000-votes/article66030419.ece | title=Mallikarjun Kharge wins Congress presidential election with over 7,800 votes | newspaper=The Hindu | date=19 October 2022 | last1=Phukan | first1=Sandeep }}</ref>

|headquarters      = 24, [[Akbar Road]], New Delhi-110001<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofindia.com/india/rent-relief-unlikely-for-congresss-delhi-properties/articleshow/64441958.cms |title=Rent relief unlikely for Congress's Delhi properties |work=The Times of India |access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref>

|membership        = 45 million (2022)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://theprint.in/india/southern-states-ahead-in-congress-membership-drive-telangana-unit-leads/892158/ |title=Southern states ahead in Congress membership drive, Telangana unit leads |date=28 March 2022 |website=[[ThePrint]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/congress-digital-membership-drive-gains-focus-with-47-percent-men-42-percent-women-participation-significant-contribution-by-south-1521959 |title=Congress' Digital Membership Drive Gains Focus With Boost In Participation, South Contributes Significantly |date=27 March 2022 |website=[[ABP News]]}}</ref>

  | [[Social liberalism]]<ref name="NSGehlot1991">{{cite book|author=N. S. Gehlot|title=The Congress Party in India: Policies, Culture, Performance|url={{Google books|06HLD2_3Qj4C|page=PM177|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|year=1991|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications|isbn=978-81-7100-306-8|pages=150–200}}</ref><ref name="J.Soper">{{cite book |last1=Soper |first1=J. Christopher |last2=Fetzer |first2=Joel S. |date=2018 |title=Religion and Nationalism in Global Perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y7BoDwAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |pages=200–210 |isbn=978-1-107-18943-0 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=DeSouza |first=Peter Ronald |date=2006 |title=India's Political Parties Readings in Indian Government and Politics series |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eeRhDwAAQBAJ&q=Indian+National+Congress+liberal+ideology |location= |publisher= [[SAGE Publishing]] |page=420 |isbn=978-9-352-80534-1 |author-link=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Rosow |first1=Stephen J. |last2=George |first2=Jim |date=2014 |title=Globalization and Democracy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3mVoAEACAAJ |location= |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |pages=91–96 |isbn=978-1-442-21810-9 |author-link=}}</ref>   

   | [[Social democracy]]<ref name="Barrington2009"/><ref name="Agarwal1989">{{cite book|year=1989|editor1-last=Agrawal|editor1-first=S. P.|editor2-last=Aggarwal|editor2-first=J. C.|title=Nehru on Social Issues|location=New Delhi|publisher=Concept Publishing|isbn=978-817022207-1}}</ref>

   | [[Big tent]]<ref name="Barrington2009">{{cite book|author=Lowell Barrington|title=Comparative Politics: Structures and Choices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3uuAtazupnAC&pg=PA379|year=2009|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-0-618-49319-7|page=379}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Meyer|first1=Karl Ernest|last2=Brysac|first2=Shareen Blair|title=Pax Ethnica: Where and How Diversity Succeeds|url=https://archive.org/details/paxethnicawhereh0000meye|url-access=registration|access-date=7 April 2016|year=2012|publisher=PublicAffairs|isbn=978-1-61039-048-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/paxethnicawhereh0000meye/page/50 50]}}</ref>

|position          = <!-- IMPORTANT: Do not change party ideology or position without bringing reliable sources to the Talk page and garnering consensus. -->  {{nowrap|[[Centrism|Centre]]{{refn |<ref name="centrist">{{cite web |title=Political Parties – NCERT |url=https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/jess406.pdf |publisher=[[National Council of Educational Research and Training]] |access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor=Jean-Pierre Cabestan, Jacques deLisle |title=Inside India Today (Routledge Revivals) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=heFSAQAAQBAJ&dq=Centrist+Indian+National+Congress&pg=PR10 |quote= ... were either guarded in their criticism of the ruling party — the centrist Indian National Congress — or attacked it almost invariably from a rightist position. This was so for political and commercial reasons, which are explained, ... |date=2013 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-135-04823-5 }}</ref><ref name="Barrington2009" />}} to [[centre-left]]{{refn |<ref>{{cite news |title=India Election 2019: A Simple Guide to the World's Largest Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/world/asia/india-election.html |quote= The Indian National Congress led India for most of the nation’s post-independence history. This secular, center-left party’s leader is Rahul Gandhi, whose father, grandmother and great-grandfather were prime ministers. |access-date=11 January 2023 |agency=[[The New York Times]] |date=22 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor=S. Harikrishnan |title=Social Spaces and the Public Sphere: A Spatial-history of Modernity in Kerala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=byWUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT31 |quote= Electorally, both the left-leaning Communist parties (and allies) and the centre-left Indian National Congress (and allies) have been active in Kerala. |date=2022 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=9781000786583 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor=Shekh Moinuddin |title=Digital Shutdowns and Social Media: Spatiality, Political Economy and Internet Shutdowns in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9AiEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA99 |quote= Meanwhile, in the last four years, there has been a shift in social content and strategy of the BJP and the major opposition party, centre-left Indian National Congress (INC). |page=99 |date=2021 |publisher=[[Springer Nature]] |isbn=9783030678883 }}</ref>}}}}

|alliance          =[[United Progressive Alliance]]<br />([[India|All India]])<br />[[Secular Progressive Alliance]]<br />([[Tamil Nadu]])<br />[[Mahagathbandhan (Bihar)|Mahagathbandhan]]<br />([[Bihar]])<br />[[Mahagathbandhan (Jharkhand)|Mahagathbandhan]]<br />([[Jharkhand]])<br />[[Secular Democratic Forces]]<br />([[Tripura]])<br />[[Secular Progressive Front]]<br />([[Manipur]])<br />[[United Democratic Front (India)|United Democratic Front]]<br />([[Kerala]])<br />[[Maha Vikas Aghadi]]<br />([[Maharashtra]])

|loksabha_seats    = {{Composition bar|52|543|hex={{party color|Indian National Congress}}}} ('''541''' MPs & '''2''' Vacant)

|rajyasabha_seats  = {{Composition bar|31|245|hex={{party color|Indian National Congress}}}} ('''239''' MPs & '''6''' Vacant)<ref name=pp>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.5/newlob/party_position.pdf|title=Party Position in the Rajya Sabha|publisher=Rajya Sabha|access-date=14 July 2018}}</ref>

| state_seats      = {{Composition bar|670|4036|hex={{party color|Indian National Congress}}}}

([[#Presence in states and UTs|see complete list]])

| state2_seats      = {{Composition bar|47|426|hex={{party color|Indian National Congress}}}}

([[#Presence in states and UTs|see complete list]])

|no_states        = {{Composition bar|6|31|hex={{party color|Indian National Congress}}}}

The '''Indian National Congress''' ('''INC'''), [[colloquially]] the '''Congress Party''' but often simply the '''Congress''', is a [[political parties in India|political party in India]] with widespread roots.<ref name="Roots">{{cite web |title=Indian National Congress |url=https://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/indian-national-congress |publisher=[[The Open University]] |access-date=30 March 2022}}</ref> Founded in 1885, it was the first modern [[Nationalism|nationalist movement]] to emerge in the [[British Empire]] in Asia and Africa.{{efn|"The first modern nationalist movement to arise in the non-European empire, and one that became an inspiration for many others, was the Indian Congress."<ref name="Marshall2001" />}}<ref name="Marshall2001" /> From the late 19th century, and especially after 1920, under the leadership of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], the Congress became the principal leader of the [[Indian independence movement]].<ref name="research">{{cite web|title=Information about the Indian National Congress|url=http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/indian-national-congress|website=www.open.ac.uk |publisher=Arts & Humanities Research council|access-date=29 July 2015}}</ref> The Congress led India to independence from the United Kingdom,{{efn|{{efn|"South Asian parties include several of the oldest in the post-colonial world, foremost among them the 129-year-old Indian National Congress that led India to independence in 1947"<ref name="Chiriyankandath2016" /> }}<ref name="Chiriyankandath2016">{{citation|last=Chiriyankandath|first=James |title=Parties and Political Change in South Asia|url={{Google books|c4n7CwAAQBAJ|page=PA2|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|year=2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-58620-3|page=2}}</ref>{{efn|"The organization that led India to independence, the Indian National Congress, was established in 1885."<ref name="KopsteinLichbach2014" /> }}<ref name="KopsteinLichbach2014">{{citation|last1=Kopstein|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Lichbach|first2=Mark|last3=Hanson |first3=Stephen E.|title=Comparative Politics: Interests, Identities, and Institutions in a Changing Global Order|url={{Google books|L2jwAwAAQBAJ|page=PA344|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|year=2014|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-99138-4|page=344}}</ref>}} and significantly influenced other [[Decolonization|anti-colonial nationalist movements]] in the British Empire .{{efn|"...&nbsp;anti-colonial movements ... which, like many other nationalist movements elsewhere in the empire, were strongly influenced by the Indian National Congress."<ref name="Marshall2001" />}}<ref name="Marshall2001">{{citation|last=Marshall|first=P. J.|title=The Cambridge Illustrated History of the British Empire|url={{Google books|S2EXN8JTwAEC|page=PA179|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|year=2001|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-00254-7|page=179}}</ref>  

In the 17 general elections since independence, it has won an outright majority on seven occasions and has led the ruling coalition a further three times, heading the central government for more than 54 years. There have been six Prime Ministers from the Congress party, the first being [[Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru]] (1947–1964), and the most recent [[Dr. Manmohan Singh]] (2004–2014).

Hume organized the first meeting in Bombay with the approval of the [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy]] [[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|Lord Dufferin]]. [[Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee|Umesh Chandra Banerjee]] was the first president of Congress; the first session was attended by 72 delegates, representing each province of India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Singh |first=Kanishka |url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/india/here-is-a-list-of-past-presidents-of-indian-national-congress-4967084/lite/ |title=Indian National Congress: From 1885 till 2017, a brief history of past presidents |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=5 December 2017 |access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/news/report/cong/20061228.htm |title=Sonia sings Vande Mataram at Congress function – Rediff.com India News |publisher=M.rediff.com |date=28 December 2006 |access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref> Notable representatives included Scottish ICS officer [[William Wedderburn]], [[Dadabhai Naoroji]], [[Pherozeshah Mehta]] of the Bombay Presidency Association, [[Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi]] of the [[Poona Sarvajanik Sabha]], social reformer and newspaper editor [[Gopal Ganesh Agarkar]], Justice [[Kashinath Trimbak Telang|K. T. Telang]], [[N. G. Chandavarkar]], [[Dinshaw Wacha]], [[Behramji Malabari]], journalist, and activist [[Gooty Kesava Pillai]], and [[P. Rangaiah Naidu]] of the [[Madras Mahajana Sabha]].<ref>{{cite book|pages=12–27 | title= The history of the Indian National Congress (1885–1935)|author=Sitaramayya, B. Pattabhi|publisher= Working Committee of the Congress|year=1935|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyoftheindi035503mbp#page/n41/mode/1up}}</ref><ref name="INC">{{cite book|first=Judith E.|last=Walsh|title=A Brief History of India|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-0825-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin0000wals/page/154 154]|year=2006|url=https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin0000wals/page/154}}</ref> This small elite group, unrepresentative of the Indian masses at the time,<ref name="SissonWolpert1988">{{cite book|author1=Richard Sisson|author2=Stanley A. Wolpert|title=Congress and Indian Nationalism: The Pre-independence Phase|url={{Google books|QfOSxFVQa8IC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|year=1988|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-06041-8|page=21|quote=Those fewer than 100 English-educated gentlemen of means and property, mostly lawyers and journalists, could hardly claim to 'represent' some 250 million illiterate impoverished peasants}}</ref> functioned more as a stage for elite Indian ambitions than a political party for the first decade of its existence.<ref name="SissonWolpert1988 2">{{cite book|author1=Richard Sisson|author2=Stanley A. Wolpert|title=Congress and Indian Nationalism: The Pre-independence Phase|url={{Google books|QfOSxFVQa8IC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|year=1988|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-06041-8|pages=22–23|quote=Without any funds or any secretariat, however (other than Hume) Congress remained, during its first decade at least, more of a sounding board for elite Indian aspirations than a political party.}}</ref>

Congress included several prominent political figures. [[Dadabhai Naoroji]], a member of the sister [[Indian National Association]], was elected president of the party in 1886 and was the first Indian Member of Parliament in the [[British House of Commons]] (1892–1895). Congress also included [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]], [[Bipin Chandra Pal]], [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]], and [[Mohammed Ali Jinnah]]. Jinnah was a member of the moderate group in the Congress, favouring [[Hindu–Muslim unity]] in achieving self-government.{{sfn|Mahendra Prasad Singh|1981|pp=41–42}} Later he became the leader of the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]] and instrumental in the creation of [[Pakistan]]. Congress was transformed into a mass movement by [[Surendranath Banerjee]] during the [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|partition of Bengal in 1905]], and the resultant [[Swadeshi movement]].<ref name="INC" />

Congress [[Minister (government)|Ministers]] Resigned in October and November 1939 in Protest against Viceroy [[Lord Linlithgow]]'s declaration that India was a belligerent in the [[Second World War]] without consulting the [[Indian people]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=SN Sen|title=History Modern India|publisher=New Age International|isbn=9788122417746|page=202|year=2006}}</ref> In 1939, [[Subhas Chandra Bose]], the elected [[President of India]] in both 1938 and 1939, resigned from Congress over the selection of the working committee.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dates of time spent in Britain:&nbsp;1919–21 |url=http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/subhas-chandra-bose |title=Subhas Chandra Bose &#124; |publisher=Open.ac.uk |access-date=3 May 2014}}</ref> Congress was an umbrella organisation, sheltering radical socialists, traditionalists, and Hindu and [[Muslim conservatism|Muslim conservatives]].  [[Mahatma Gandhi]] expelled all the socialist groupings, including the [[Congress Socialist Party]], the [[Krishak Sramik Party|Krishak Praja Party]], and the [[Swaraj Party]], along with [[Subhas Chandra Bose]], in 1939.<ref name=M.Ghandi1 />

 

Due to [[Sino-Indian War]] 1962, India faced a huge budgetary deficit resulting in its treasury being almost empty, high inflation, and dwindling forex reserves. The brief War of 1962 exposed weaknesses in the economy and shifted the focus towards the defence industry and the [[Indian Army]]. The government found itself short of resources to fund the Third Plan (1961–1966). [[Subhadra Joshi]] a senior party member, proposed a non-official resolution asking for the nationalisation of private banks stating that nationalisation would help in mobilising resources for development.<ref name="Bank Act">{{cite web |title=The Defining Event |url=https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/content/PDFs/90069.pdf |publisher=[[Reserve Bank of India]] |access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> In July 1969, Indira Gandhi through the ordinance nationalised fourteen major private banks.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Banking_Awareness/ChrzDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA20 |title=Banking Awareness |date=2017 |publisher=Arihant Publications (India) Ltd. |page=20 |isbn=978-93-11124-66-7}}</ref> After being re-elected in 1971 on a campaign that endorsed nationalisation, Indira Gandhi went on to nationalise the coal, steel, copper, refining, cotton textiles and insurance industries. The main reason was to protect employment and the interest of the organised labour.<ref name="Bank Act" />

On 12 June 1975, the [[Allahabad High Court|High Court of Allahabad]] declared Indira Gandhi's election to the [[Lok Sabha]], the lower house of India's parliament, void on the grounds of electoral malpractice.<ref name=emergency>{{cite web|title=The Emergency, and Indian democracy|url=https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Independent/Indira.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991112105947/http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Independent/Indira.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 November 1999|website=sscnet.ucla.edu|publisher=UCLA Division of Social Science|access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> However, Gandhi rejected calls to resign and announced plans to appeal to the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]]. In response to increasing disorder and lawlessness, Gandhi's ministry recommended that President [[Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed]] declare a [[State of Emergency in India|State of Emergency]], based on the provisions of [[Part Eleven of the Constitution of India|Article 352]] of the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Emergency papers found |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/Emergency-papers-found/articleshow/20839450.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=6 June 2018 |date=30 June 2013}}</ref> During the nineteen-month emergency, widespread oppression and abuse of power by Gandhi's unelected younger son and political heir [[Sanjay Gandhi]] and his close associates occurred.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ghildiyal|first=Subodh |title=Cong blames Sanjay Gandhi for Emergency 'excesses'|date=29 December 2010|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-29/india/28661327_1_slum-clearance-sanjay-gandhi-sterilization|access-date=30 January 2014 |url-status=dead|archive-date=28 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828145401/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-29/india/28661327_1_slum-clearance-sanjay-gandhi-sterilization|journal=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Express News Service|title=Emergency 'propagandist' who banned Kishore Kumar songs |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/emergency-propagandist-who-banned-kishore-kumar-songs/1127804/ |access-date=17 January 2014|newspaper=Indian Express|date=11 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="The Life of Indira Gandhi">{{cite journal |last=Dasgupta |first=Swapan |title=The Life of Indira Gandhi |date=July 1985 |volume=7 |issue=3 |journal=Third World Quarterly |department=Book Reviews |doi=10.1080/01436598508419863 |pages=731–778}}<!--|access-date=17 January 2014 --></ref> Implemented on 25 June 1975, the Emergency officially ended on 23 March 1977.<ref name=proved>{{cite news| author=Inder Malhotra|title=What Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Emergency proved for India|date=23 June 2010 |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/column/inder-malhotra-on-35-years-after-the-emergency/20100623.htm |access-date=25 June 2014|work=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> All political prisoners were released and fresh elections for the Lok Sabha were called.<ref name=union>{{cite web|title=Indian general election, 1977|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/INDIA_1977_E.PDF |website=ipu.org|publisher=Inter-Parliamentary Union|access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> In [[1977 Indian general election|parliamentary elections]] held in March, the Janata alliance of anti-Indira opposition parties won a landslide victory over Congress, winning 295 seats in the Lok Sabha against Congress' 153. Gandhi lost her seat to her Janata opponent [[Raj Narain]].

[[File:Visit of Narasimha Rao, Indian Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the CEC.jpg|thumb|Visit of Narasimha Rao,to the CEC]]

== General Election results ==

|{{yes2|Government (1967–69),Coalition (1969–71)}}

The Congress has positioned itself as both pro-Hindu and protector of the minorities. The party supports [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s doctrine of {{lang|hi|[[Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava]]}} collectively termed by its party members as secularism. Former – chief minister of Punjab and senior Congress member [[Amarinder Singh]] said, "India belongs to all religions, which is its strength, and the Congress would not allow anyone to destroy its cherished secular values."<ref name="Captain CM">{{cite news |title='Congress will safeguard secularism' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/congress-will-safeguard-secularism/article27074338.ece |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=The Hindu |agency=The Hindu Group |date=9 May 2019}}</ref> On 9 November 1989, Rajiv Gandhi had allowed {{lang|hi|Shilanyas}} (foundation stone-laying ceremony) adjacent to the then disputed [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] site.<ref name="Ram Temple Rajiv">{{cite news |last1=Kundu |first1=Chayan |title=Fact Check: False claims of Rajiv Gandhi at Ram temple 'bhoomi pujan' go viral |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fact-check/story/fact-check-false-claims-of-rajiv-gandhi-at-ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan-go-viral-1704708-2020-07-26 |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=India Today |agency=Living Media Pvt. Ltd. |date=26 July 2020}}</ref> Subsequently, his government faced heavy criticism over the passing of [[The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986]], which nullified the Supreme Court's judgment in the [[Shah Bano case]]. The [[1984 anti-Sikh riots|1984 violence]] made the Congress party lose a moral argument over secularism. The BJP questioned the Congress party's moral authority in questioning it about the [[2002 Gujarat riots]].<ref name="ThePrint">{{cite news |last1=Vij |first1=Shivam |title=Reclaiming Indian pluralism will need annihilation of the Congress party |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/reclaiming-indian-pluralism-will-need-annihilation-of-congress/485212/ |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=ThePrint |publisher=Shekhar Gupta |date=19 August 2020}}</ref> The Congress has distanced itself from [[Hindutva]] ideology, though the party has softened its stance after defeat in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.<ref name="Hindutva">{{cite news |title='Rajiv Gandhi opened locks, called for Ram Rajya in 1985': Kamal Nath |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/rajiv-gandhi-opened-locks-called-for-ram-rajya-in-1985-kamal-nath/632586 |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=Times Now |agency=The Times Group |date=6 August 2020}}</ref>

After independence, Congress advocated the idea of establishing [[Hindi language|Hindi]] as the sole national language of India. Nehru led the faction of the Congress party which promoted Hindi as the ''[[lingua franca]]'' of the Indian nation.<ref name="Lingua">{{cite journal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43950462 |publisher=JSTOR |jstor=43950462 |access-date=5 July 2021|title=Jawaharlal Nehru and the Language Problem |last1=Agrawala |first1=S. K. |journal=Journal of the Indian Law Institute |year=1977 |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=44–67 }}</ref> However, the non-Hindi-speaking Indian states especially [[Tamil Nadu]] opposed it and wanted the continued use of the English language. Lal Bahadur Shastri's tenure witnessed several protests and riots including the Madras [[Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu|anti-Hindi agitation of 1965]].<ref name="Tamil protest">{{cite news |last1=Nair |first1=Chitralekha |title=A brief history of anti-Hindi imposition agitations in India |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/06/07/brief-history-anti-hindi-imposition-agitations-india.html |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Week (Indian magazine) |publisher=Jacob Mathew |date=7 June 2019}}</ref> Shashtri's appealed to agitators to withdraw the movement and assured them that the English would continue to be used as the official language as long as the non-Hindi speaking states wanted.<ref name="Assurance">{{cite news |last1=Madan |first1=Karuna |title=Anti-Hindi agitation: How it all began |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/anti-hindi-agitation-how-it-all-began-1.2018146 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=Gulf News |agency=Al Nisr Publishing |date=28 April 2017}}</ref> Indira Gandhi assuaged the sentiments of the non-Hindi speaking states by getting the Official Languages Act amended in 1967 to provide that the use of English could continue until a resolution to end the use of the language was passed by the legislature of every state that had not adopted use Hindi as its official language, and by each house of the Indian Parliament.<ref name="Language 1967">{{cite web |title=THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT, 1963 |url=https://rajbhasha.gov.in/en/official-languages-act-1963 |publisher=Department of Official Language, Government of India |access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> This was a guarantee of de facto use of both Hindi and English as official languages, thus establishing bilingualism in India.<ref name="Language Act">{{cite web |title=Complete Text of the Official Languages Act |url=https://www.uottawa.ca/clmc/india-official-languages-act#:~:text=Bill%2019%20(1963)%20as%20amended%201967&text=An%20Act%20to%20provide%20for,certain%20communication%20purposes%20in%20HighCourts.&text=1)%20This%20Act%20may%20be,the%20Official%20Languages%20Act%2C%201963. |publisher=The University of Ottawa |access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> The step led to the end of the anti-Hindi protests and riots in states.

[[Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code]], which, among other things, criminalizes homosexuality, erstwhile Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "Sexuality is a matter of personal freedom and should be left to individuals". Leading party figure and former Finance Minister [[P. Chidambaram]] stated that the ''[[Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India]]'' judgment must be quickly reversed". On 18 December 2015, [[Shashi Tharoor]] leading member of the party introduced a [[private member's bill]] to replace Section 377 in the Indian Penal Code and decriminalize consensual same-sex relations. The bill was defeated in the first reading. In March 2016, Tharoor again reintroduce the private member's bill to decriminalize homosexuality but was voted down for the second time.

In 2004, Singh became prime minister of the Congress-led UPA government. Singh remained prime minister after the UPA won the 2009 general elections. The UPA government introduced policies aimed at reforming the banking and financial sectors, as well as public sector companies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Banking on reform|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/banking-on-reform/1059372/|access-date=14 June 2013|newspaper=Indian Express}}</ref> It also introduced policies aimed at relieving farmers of their debt.<ref>{{cite web|title=Farmer Waiver Scheme- PM statement|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=39122|publisher=PIB|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref> In 2005, [[First Manmohan Singh ministry|Singh government]] introduced the [[value added tax|value-added tax]], replacing the [[sales tax]]. India was able to resist the worst effects of the global [[economic crisis of 2008]].<ref>Mohan, R., 2008. Global financial crisis and key risks: impact on India and Asia. RBI Bulletin, pp.2003–2022.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Global inflation climbs to historic levels|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/business/worldbusiness/12iht-inflate.1.9963291.html|newspaper=The New York Times|author=Kevin Plumberg|author2=Steven C. Johnson|access-date=17 June 2011|date=2 November 2008}}</ref> Singh's government continued the [[Golden Quadrilateral]], the Indian highway modernisation program that was initiated by [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Vajpayee]]'s government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Economic benefits of golden Quadilateral|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/economic-benefits-of-the-golden-quadrilateral-project/1/194321.html|publisher=Business today|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref> Then Finance Minister of India [[Pranab Mukherjee]] implemented many tax reforms, notably scrapping the [[Fringe Benefits Tax (India)|Fringe Benefits Tax]] and the Commodities Transaction Tax.<ref>{{cite web|date=6 July 2009|title=Fringe benefit tax abolished|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/fringe-benefit-tax-abolished/story-w54pPgAH9TN3SE9ze9fdiI.html|access-date=31 August 2020|website=Hindustan Times|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040931/https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/fringe-benefit-tax-abolished/story-w54pPgAH9TN3SE9ze9fdiI.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He implemented the [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|Goods and Services Tax]] (GST) during his tenure.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 April 2017|title=President Pranab Mukherjee gives nod to four supporting Bills on GST|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-pranab-mukherjee-gives-nod-to-four-supporting-legislations-on-gst/article17982848.ece|access-date=31 August 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610130246/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-pranab-mukherjee-gives-nod-to-four-supporting-legislations-on-gst/article17982848.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> His reforms were well received by major corporate executives and economists. The introduction of retrospective taxation, however, has been criticised by some economists.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 October 2017|title=Manmohan & Sonia opposed retrospective tax: Pranab Mukherjee |url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/retrospective-tax-pranab-mukherjee/13673/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040859/https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/retrospective-tax-pranab-mukherjee/13673/|archive-date=1 September 2020|url-status=live|access-date=31 August 2020|website=ThePrint}}</ref> Mukherjee expanded funding for several social sector schemes including the [[Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission]] (JNNURM). He also supported budget increases for improving [[literacy in India|literacy]] and health care. He expanded infrastructure programmes such as the [[National Highway Development Programme]].<ref>{{cite web|title=More Funds for Infrastructure Development, Farmers|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/more-funds-for-infrastructure-development-farmers/662289|access-date=1 September 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040912/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/more-funds-for-infrastructure-development-farmers/662289|website=Outlook India}}</ref> Electricity coverage was also expanded during his tenure. Mukherjee also reaffirmed his commitment to the principle of fiscal prudence as some economists expressed concern about the rising fiscal deficits during his tenure, the highest since 1991. Mukherjee declared the expansion in government spending was only temporary.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Big spender|newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613|url=https://www.economist.com/news/2009/07/07/big-spender |access-date=1 September 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901040901/https://www.economist.com/news/2009/07/07/big-spender}}</ref>

The party under the stewardship of Nehru had the symbol ‘Pair of bullocks carrying a yoke’ which struck a chord with masses who were predominantly farmers.<ref name=bullocks>{{cite news|title=Indian political party election symbols from 1951|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-political-party-election-symbols-from-1951-when-congress-had-bullocks-and-the-hand-was-forward-blocs/462504-81.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407090702/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-political-party-election-symbols-from-1951-when-congress-had-bullocks-and-the-hand-was-forward-blocs/462504-81.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2014|access-date=27 June 2014|work=[[CNN-IBN]]|date=4 April 2014}}</ref> In 1969, due to internal conflicts within the Congress party, Indira Gandhi decided to break out and form a party of her own, with the majority of the Congress party members in support of her in the new party which was named Congress(R). The symbol of Indira's [[Congress&nbsp;(R)]] or Congress (Requisitionists) during the 1971–1977 period was a cow with a suckling calf.<ref name="Electoral Symbol">{{cite news |title=A tale of changing election symbols of Congress, BJP |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/news/a-tale-of-congress-bjp-election-symbols/articleshow/68732103.cms |access-date=26 May 2020 |work=The Times of India |agency=The Times Group |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. |date=5 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="book"/> After losing the support of 76 out of the party's 153 members in the Lok Sabha, Indira's new political outfit the Congress (I) or Congress (Indira) evolved and she opted for the hand (open palm) symbol.

[[Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|70|90|hex=#00BFFF}}

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As of December 2022, the INC is in power in the states of [[Chhattisgarh]], Rajasthan and [[Himachal Pradesh]], where the party has the majority.<ref name="Baghel CM">{{cite news |title=Bhupesh Baghel Sworn-In As Chief Minister Of Chhattisgarh |url=https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/bhupesh-baghel-sworn-in-as-chief-minister-of-chhattisgarh_in_5c17a5b0e4b05d7e5d842406 |access-date=21 July 2021 |work=PTI |publisher=HuffPost |date=17 December 2018}}</ref> In [[Maharashtra]], it shared power as a junior ally with alliance partners [[Nationalist Congress Party]], [[Shiv Sena]] and other smaller regional parties under the multi-party [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] coalition from 2019 until June 2022.<ref name="MH Alliance">{{cite news |title=What is Maha Vikas Aghadi? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-maha-vikas-aghadi-shiv-sena-ncp-congress-alliance-maharashtra-6139167/ |access-date=12 March 2022 |work=The Indian Express |agency=Indian Express Group |date=27 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Uddhav Thackeray resigns ahead of floor test, BJP set to return with Sena rebelst|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/uddhav-resigns-ahead-of-floor-test-bjp-set-to-return-with-sena-rebels-7999646/|first1=Zeeshan|last1=Shaikh|publisher=[[The Indian Express]] |date= 30 June 2022 |access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref> In [[Jharkhand]], it shares power as a junior ally with [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]].<ref name="JH Alliance">{{cite news |last1=Joshi |first1=Poornima |title=Jharkhand polls: JMM-led alliance trounces the BJP in Jharkhand |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/jharkhand-polls-jmm-congress-alliance-set-to-trounce-bjp/article30381608.ece |access-date=12 March 2022 |work=Business Line |agency=The Times Group |date=23 December 2019}}</ref> In [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Tamil Nadu]] its a junior ally of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]], [[Communist Party of India|CPI]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]], [[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi|VCK]] under the coalition [[Secular Progressive Alliance]] or SPA . The Congress has previously been the sole party in power in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, [[Meghalaya]], Haryana, [[Uttarakhand]] and in the [[States and union territories of India|Union Territory]] of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. The Congress has never been a part of the government in [[Telangana]], however, the Congress has been in the power in [[Andhra Pradesh]] before the state was [[Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014|bifurcated]]. Congress has enjoyed overwhelming electoral majority for over decades in [[Arunachal Pradesh]], Delhi, Kerala, [[Maharashtra]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]. It has a regional political alliance in Tamil Nadu named the [[Secular Progressive Alliance]], and in Kerala, it is the [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|United Democratic Front]].<ref name="TN Alliance">{{cite news |title=DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance wins 21 Corporations in sweep of urban civic polls |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/feb/22/dmk-led-secular-progressive-alliance-wins-21-corporations-in-sweep-of-urban-civic-polls-2422590.html |access-date=12 March 2022 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |agency=Express Publications (Madurai) Limited |date=23 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="KL Alliance">{{cite news |last1=Chandran |first1=Cynthia |title=MM Hassan takes charge as the UDF convener |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/oct/03/mm-hassan-takes-charge-as-the-udf-convener-2205259.html |access-date=12 March 2022 |work=The New Indian Express |agency=Express Publications (Madurai) Limited}}</ref>

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* [[United Progressive Alliance]]