List of presidents of the Indian National Congress

The Indian National Congress is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa. Sonia Gandhi is the longest serving president of the Congress party, having held the office for nineteen years from 1998 to 2017. Her son Rahul Gandhi, the last Congress President, resigned from the post on 3 July 2019.

About List of presidents of the Indian National Congress in brief

Summary List of presidents of the Indian National CongressThe Indian National Congress is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa. 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. Sonia Gandhi is the longest serving president of the Congress party, having held the office for nineteen years from 1998 to 2017. 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.

In 2004, when the INC was voted back into power, Manmohan Singh became the first Prime Minister, not to be the president ofThe party since Indira Gandhi established the practice of the president holding both positions. A total of sixty one people have served as the president. 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 2000–09, INC did not host a conference for the first time in history. As Congress president, his address to the party was notable for its detailed look on the British rule’s economic and financial aspects. He was a mentor to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mohamchand Gandhi.