List of presidents of the Indian National Congress

The Indian National Congress is a political party in India with widespread roots.[1] Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa.[lower-alpha 1][2] From the late 19th century, and especially after 1920, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Congress became the principal leader of the Indian independence movement. Congress led India to independence from Great Britain,[lower-alpha 2][3][lower-alpha 3][4] and powerfully influenced other anti-colonial nationalist movements in the British Empire.[lower-alpha 4][2]

President of the Indian National Congress
Incumbent
Sonia Gandhi
since 10 August 2019
Indian National Congress
TypePolitical Office
Residence24, Akbar Road, New Delhi-110001
AppointerCommittee consisting of members of the Indian National Congress from the National and State Committees
Term lengthno term limit
Formation28 December 1885
First holderWomesh Chunder Bonnerjee
(1885–1886)
Websitewww.inc.in

Congress is a secular party whose social democratic platform is generally considered to be on the centre-left of Indian politics.[5]

After the party's foundation in 1885, Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee became its first president.  A total of sixty one people have served as the president of the Indian National Congress.[6] Sonia Gandhi is the longest serving president of the Congress party, having held the office for nineteen years from 1998 to 2017.[7][8]

History
Main article: History of the Indian National Congress

During 1885–1933, the presidency had a term of 1 year only. Traditionally, the post rotated between prominent members of the party, successive terms for the same person being frowned upon. During Jawaharlal Nehru's premiership, he rarely held the Presidency of INC, even though he was always head of the Legislative Party.[9]

Indira Gandhi however, institutionalized the practice of having the same person as the Congress President and the Prime Minister of India after she formed Congress (I) in 1978. Her son Rajiv Gandhi continued that practice.[10][11]

P. V. Narasimha Rao too held both the Congress (I) President and the Prime Minister's posts. Sitaram Kesri held the post after INC was voted out. But as the party never returned to power under his leadership, he didn't hold the two posts together.[12]

During 2000–09, INC did not host a conference for the first time in history. In 2004, when the INC was voted back into power, Manmohan Singh became the first Prime Minister, not to be the president of the party since Indira Gandhi established the practice of the president holding both positions. Sonia Gandhi is the longest serving president of the Congress party, having held the office for nineteen years from 1998 to 2017.[7][8] Her son Rahul Gandhi, the last Congress President, resigned from the post on 3 July 2019. On 10 August, the Congress Working committee, elected Sonia Gandhi as the interim President. The decision led to critics saying that the Gandhi family is refusing to loosen its grip on the party’s internal power structures.[13]

List of party presidents
No. Year of Presidency Name of President Presided Session at Location Picture Life span (Notes)
1 1885 Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee Bombay 29 December 1844 – 21 July 1906

A barrister who was the co-founder and first president of Indian National Congress presiding over its first session.[14]

2 1886 Dadabhai Naoroji Calcutta 4 September 1825 – 30 June 1917

He was also a member of the Indian National Association founded by Sir Surendranath Banerjee from Calcutta a few years before the founding of the INC in Bombay, with the same objectives and practices.[15] The two groups later merged into the INC, and Naoroji was elected President of the Congress in 1886. Naoroji published Poverty and un-British Rule in India in 1901.[15]

3 1887 Badruddin Tyabji Madras 10 October 1844 – 19 August 1906
Tyabji was considered a moderate Muslims during the freedom movement of India.[16] He was instrumental in building the national scope of the Congress by working to gain support from both Hindus and Muslims and during his time as President, he focused on uniting the Muslim community.[17] In response to criticisms that Muslims should boycott the Congress, Tyabji declared that he had denounced all communal and sectarian prejudices.[18][19]
4 1888 George Yule Allahabad 17 April 1829 – 26 March 1892
A Scottish merchant who served as the fourth President of the Congress and the first non-Indian to hold that office.[20] He was founder of George Yule & Co. of London, and headed Andrew Yule & Co., of Calcutta. He served as Sheriff of Calcutta and as President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
5 1889 William Wedderburn Bombay 25 March 1838 – 25 January 1918

He joined the Indian Civil Service in Bombay and retired as acting Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay in 1887. He served as its president in 1889 and 1910. He worked along with influential Congress leaders in Bombay and in 1890 he chaired the British committee of the Indian National Congress. He contributed to the Indian Reform Movement through which he promoted national consciousness.[21]

6 1890 Pherozeshah Mehta Calcutta 4 August 1845 – 5 November 1915
7 1891 Anandacharlu Nagpur 5 August 1843 – 4 January 1908
8 1892 Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee 29 December 1844 – 21 July 1906

Becoming a president for a second time[22] he denounced the position that India had to prove for worthiness of political freedom.[23]

9 1893 Dadabhai Naoroji Lahore 4 September 1825 – 30 June 1917

He became the president for a second time. Naoroji published Poverty and un-British Rule in India in 1901.[14]

10 1894 Alfred Webb Madras 10 June 1834 – 30 July 1908
11 1895 Surendranath Banerjee Poona 10 November 1848 – 6 August 1925
12 1896 Rahimtulla M. Sayani Calcutta 5 April 1847 – 6 June 1902

He was a member of the Congress Executive Committee (Indian Congress Committee) formed in 1899 as one of the representatives from Bombay. As Congress president, his address to the party was notable for its detailed look on the British rule's economic and financial aspects.[24]

13 1897 C. Sankaran Nair Amaravati 11 July 1857 – 24 April 1934
14 1898 Anandamohan Bose Madras 23 September 1847 – 20 August 1906
15 1899 Romesh Chunder Dutt Luknow 13 August 1848 – 30 November 1909
16 1900 N. G. Chandavarkar Lahore 2 December 1855 – 14 May 1923
17 1901 Dinshaw Edulji Wacha Calcutta 2 August 1844 – 18 February 1936
18 1902 Surendranath Banerjee 10 November 1825 – 6 August 1925
19 1903 Lalmohan Ghosh Madras 1849 – 18 October 1909
20 1904 Henry Cotton Bombay 13 September 1845 – 22 October 1915
21 1905 Gopal Krishna Gokhale Banaras 9 May 1866 – 19 February 1915
22 1906 Dadabhai Naoroji Calcutta 4 September 1825 – 30 June 1917

He was elected president of the Congress for a third time. Naoroji was a staunch moderate within the Congress, during the phase when opinion in the party was split between the moderates and extremists. Naoroji was a mentor to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

23 1907 Rashbihari Ghosh Surat 23 December 1845 – 28 February 1921

Originally the session was to be held in Nagpur. But fearing that Lokmanya Tilak of Extremists Group would have the upper hand in Nagpur, the Moderate camp's leader Gokhale switched the venue to Surat. The Extremists then proposed Lala Lajpat Rai's name as President but the suggestion was rejected. Tilak was imprisoned in Mandalay from 1908 to 1914, but rejoined Congress after his release.[25]

24 1908 Rashbihari Ghosh Madras 23 December 1845 – 28 February 1921
25 1909 Madan Mohan Malaviya Lahore 25 December 1861 – 12 November 1946
26 1910 William Wedderburn 25 March 1838 – 25 January 1918

He joined the Indian Civil Service in Bombay and retired as acting Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay in 1887. He served as its president in 1889 and 1910. He worked along with influential Congress leaders in Bombay and in 1890 he chaired the British committee of the Indian National Congress. He contributed to the Indian Reform Movement through which he promoted national consciousness.[21]

27 1911 Bishan Narayan Dar Calcutta 1864–1916
28 1912 Raghunath Narasinha Mudholkar 16 May 1857 – 13 January 1921
29 1913 Nawab Syed Muhammad Bahadur 1867–1919
30 1914 Bhupendra Nath Bose 13 January 1859 – 13 September 1924
31 1915 Lord Satyendra Prasanna Sinha 24 March 1863 – 4 March 1928
32 1916 Ambica Charan Mazumdar Lucknow 1850 – 19 March 1922
33 1917 Annie Besant Calcutta 1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933
34 1918 Madan Mohan Malaviya 25 December 1861 – 12 November 1946
35 1918 Syed Hasan Imam 31 August 1871 – 19 April 1933
36 1919 Motilal Nehru Amritsar 6 May 1861 – 6 February 1931
37 1920 Lala Lajpat Rai Calcutta (special session) 28 January 1865 – 17 November 1928
38 1920 C. Vijayaraghavachariar Nagpur 18 June 1852 – 19 April 1944
39 1921 Chittaranjan Das (President)

Hakim Ajmal Khan (Acting President)

 Ahemdabad 11 February 1868 – 29 December 1927
40 1922 Chittaranjan Das Gaya 5 November 1870 – 16 June 1925
41 1923 Mohammad Ali Jouhar 10 December 1878 – 4 January 1931
42 1923 Abul Kalam Azad Delhi 11 November 1888 – 22 February 1958
43 1924 Mahatma Gandhi Belgaum 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948
44 1925 Sarojini Naidu Kanpur 13 February 1879 – 2 March 1949
45 1926 S. Srinivasa Iyengar Guwahati 11 September 1874 – 19 May 1941
46 1927 Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari Madras 25 December 1880 – 10 May 1936
47 1928 Motilal Nehru Calcutta 6 May 1861 – 6 February 1931
48 1929 & 30 Jawaharlal Nehru Lahore 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964
49 1931 Vallabhbhai Patel Karachi 31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950
50 1932 Madan Mohan Malaviya 25 December 1861 – 12 November 1946
51 1933 Nellie Sengupta 12 January 1886 – 23 October 1973

She was elected President by the party for her contribution to the party and the country. In 1933 and 1936, she was elected as an alderman in the Calcutta Corporation.[26]

52 1934 & 35 Rajendra Prasad Bombay 3 December 1884 – 28 February 1963
53 1936 Jawaharlal Nehru Lucknow and Faizpur 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964
54 1937
55 1938 Subhas Chandra Bose Haripura, Gujarat 23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945

He had a view that the INC "should be organised on the boradest anti-imperialist front with the two fold objective of winning political freedom and the establishment of a socialist regime."[27]

56 1939 Subhas Chandra Bose (resigned)
Rajendra Prasad replaced Bose after
the session.		 Tripuri, Chhattisgad (Then in Madhya Pradesh) 23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945
57 1940–45 Abul Kalam Azad Ramgarh 11 November 1888 – 22 February 1958
57 1946 Jawaharlal Nehru 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964

One month after his election as the president, he was asked to head the Interim Government. After which the post of the party president and the head of the Interim government was split. Nehru resigned as the president of INC and headed the Government.[28]

58 1947 J. B. Kripalani Meerut 11 November 1888 – 19 March 1982

He had served as the General Secretary of the INC for almost a decade. He had experience working in the field of education and was made the president to rebuild the INC. Disputes between the party and the Government over procedural matters affected his relationship with the colleagues in the Government.[28]

59 1948 & 49 Pattabhi Sitaraimayya Jaipur 24 December 1880 – 17 December 1959

The Governor of Madhya Pradesh from 1952–57, Sitaraimayya successfully ran for the president’s post with the support of Jawaharlal Nehru. Sitaramayya was one of the leaders who demanded the need for a separate state that went on to become Andhra Pradesh. He founded the Andhra Bank in Machilipatnam in 1923.

60 1950 Purushottam Das Tandon 1 August 1882 – 1 July 1961

Tandon won against J.B Kripalani in the 1950 elections, but soon resigned from the post because of differences he had with Nehru. Tandon was also instrumental in making sure that Hindi received official language status.

61 1951 & 52 Jawaharlal Nehru 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964
62 1953
63 1954
64 1955 U. N. Dhebar 21 September 1905 – 11 March 1977

The Chief Minister of Saurashtra from 1948–54, Dhebar held a four-year term as Congress president. In 1962, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajkot.

65 1956
66 1957
67 1958
68 1959
69 1959 Indira Gandhi 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984
70 1960 Neelam Sanjiva Reddy 19 May 1913 – 1 June 1996

Reddy served as the Congress president thrice. After he lost the 1969 Presidential elections to V.V. Giri, he retired from active politics for a while. But he was elected to Lok Sabha in 1977, and became President of India later that year.

71 1961
72 1962 & 63
73 1964 K. Kamaraj 15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975

The third Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu), he was the leader of the Congress (O) when the party split up after Indira Gandhi's elevation to the presidency, a post he remained in until his death in 1975. Kamraj served as president from 1965-68.

74 1965
75 1966 & 67
76 1968–1969 S. Nijalingappa Hyderabad, Faridabad 10 December 1902 – 9 August 2000

Nijalingappa was the last President of the undivided Congress party, and during the split, he ended up on the side of the Syndicate. He was elected to the first Lok Sabha from the Chitradurga constituency in 1952.

77 1970 & 71 Jagjivan Ram 5 April 1908 – 6 July 1986

Ram was a president of the party between 1970-71. Later, he formed his own party, naming it Congress (J) and remained an MP until his death.

78 1972–74 Shankar Dayal Sharma 19 August 1918 – 26 December 1999
79 1975–77 Devakanta Barua 22 February 1914 – 28 January 1996
80 1977–1978 Kasu Brahmananda Reddy 28 July 1909 – 20 May 1994
81 1978–83 Indira Gandhi 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984

She led a dominant faction of Congress called 'Indira Congress' from 1978 to 1984. After her death, other factions gradually merged back with Congress (Indira), and the party became known as simply 'Congress' again.

82 1983 & 84
83 1985–91 Rajiv Gandhi 20 August 1944 – 21 May 1991
84 1991–96 P. V. Narasimha Rao 28 June 1921 – 23 December 2004
85 1996–98 Sitaram Kesri 15 November 1919 – 24 October 2000
86 1998–2017 Sonia Gandhi 9 December 1946
87 2017–2019 Rahul Gandhi 19 June 1970
88 2019– Sonia Gandhi 9 December 1946[29]

See also

Notes
  1. "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."[2]
  2. "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"[3]
  3. "The organization that led India to independence, the Indian National Congress, was established in 1885."[4]
  4. "... anti-colonial movements ... which, like many other nationalist movements elsewhere in the empire, were strongly infuenced by the Indian National Congress."[2]

References
  1. "Indian National Congress". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  2. Marshall, P. J. (2001), The Cambridge Illustrated History of the British Empire, Cambridge University Press, p. 179, ISBN 978-0-521-00254-7
  3. Chiriyankandath, James (2016), Parties and Political Change in South Asia, Routledge, p. 2, ISBN 978-1-317-58620-3
  4. Kopstein, Jeffrey; Lichbach, Mark; Hanson, Stephen E. (2014), Comparative Politics: Interests, Identities, and Institutions in a Changing Global Order, Cambridge University Press, p. 344, ISBN 978-1-139-99138-4
  5. "Indian National Congress – about INC, history, symbol, leaders and more". Elections.in. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  6. "Indian National Congress: From 1885 till 2017, a brief history of past presidents". 5 December 2017.
  7. "Sonia Gandhi (Indian politician)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  8. Barbara A. Somervill (2007). Indira Gandhi: Political Leader in India. Capstone. pp. 91–. ISBN 978-0-7565-1885-1.
  9. DelhiDecember 16, Prabhash K. Dutta New; December 16, 2017UPDATED; Ist, 2017 13:38. "Rahul Gandhi is not youngest Congress president, not even in family". India Today.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. "Goodbye, Rahul Gandhi?". India Today.
  11. April 21, Nikhil Chakravartty; January 31, 2015 ISSUE DATE; April 28, 1978UPDATED; Ist, 2015 10:37. "Indira Gandhi installed as president of break-away faction of Congress Party". India Today.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. DelhiNovember 19, Prabhash K. Dutta New; November 19, 2018UPDATED; Ist, 2018 11:57. "Here's how Sonia Gandhi replaced Sitaram Kesri as Congress president". India Today.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. Parkin, Benjamin (2019). "India's Congress party names Sonia Gandhi interim president". Financial Times (11 August 2019). Financial times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  14. Nanda, B. R. (2015) [1977], Gokhale: The Indian Moderates and the British Raj, Legacy Series, Princeton University Press, p. 58, ISBN 978-1-4008-7049-3
  15. Nanda, B. R. (1977), Gokhale: The Indian Moderates and the British Raj, Legacy Series, Princeton University Press, p. 58, ISBN 978-1-4008-7049-3, In 1874, he became Prime Minister of Baroda and was a member of the Legislative Council of Bombay (1885–88).2015
  16. Anonymous (1926). Eminent Mussalmans (1 ed.). Madras: G.A. Natesan & Co. pp. 97–112.
  17. Karlitzky, Maren (1 January 2004). "Continuity and Change in the Relationship between Congress and the Muslim Élite: A Case Study of the Tyabji Family". Oriente Moderno. 23 (84): 161–175. doi:10.1163/22138617-08401011. JSTOR 25817923.
  18. "Profile of Badruddin Tyabji". Indian National Congress website. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  19. Tyabji, Badruddin. "Presidential speech to the Indian National Congress, 1887". www.columbia.edu. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  20. Catherine Hall; Sonya O. Rose (2006). At Home with the Empire: Metropolitan Culture and the Imperial World. Cambridge University Press. p. 281. ISBN 978-1-139-46009-5.
  21. "William Wedderburn - Read here complete information about William Wedderburn biography, History, education, Family, fact, other information". Indian National Congress. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  22. Sayed Jafar Mahmud (1994). Pillars of Modern India, 1757–1947. APH Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-81-7024-586-5.
  23. Lacy, Creighton (1965). The Conscience Of India – Moral Traditions In The Modern World, Holt, New York: Rinehart and Winston, p. 123
  24. "Rahimatullah M. Sayani, PAST PARTY PRESIDENTS, Indian National Congress". Indian National Congress. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  25. http://www.sriaurobindoinstitute.org/saioc/Sri_Aurobindo/surat_congress_split
  26. "Mrs. Nellie Sengupta, Past Presidents, Indian National Congress". Indian National Congress. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  27. Bose, Subhas Chandra (2004). CONGRESS PRESIDENT: Speeches, Articles, and Letters January 1938–May 1939. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-7824-103-6.
  28. Kochanek, Stanley A. (2015). The Congress Party of India: The Dynamics of a One-Party Democracy. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-1-4008-7576-4. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  29. Phukan, Sandeep (10 August 2019). "Congress brings back Sonia Gandhi to lead for now". The Hindu.
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