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Article: Congress Decline and Party Pluralism in India.
- Article from:
- Journal of International Affairs
- Article date:
- June 22, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Columbia University School of International Public Affairs. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Indian National Congress party was founded in 1885 to petition the British government in India for administrative and political reform. Under British rule, the Congress gained experience in contesting elections and in governing at provincial and municipal levels. In the 1920s, Mohandas Gandhi reorganized the party, which helped it to evolve into one of the world's largest membership-based, mass organizations. Principled and well-organized resistance to British rule confirmed the Congress as the party of Indian national independence. As the Second World War weakened Britain's colonial grip, the Congress was invited to take charge of the central government, almost a year ...