Before Independence there was only one known political party which was the Congress party led by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhash C. Bose, Lalbahadur Shastri and the likes. These Leaders had a charismatic image in the masses. People followed them with full faith. Although Gandhi wanted to dissolve the name of Congress and was of the opinion that the first Lok Sabha elections should be fought under a new party name, others did not support the adoption of a new party name for its popularity.
The Congress saw India through a glorious independence by freeing it from the clutches of the British. During the post-independence period the leaders of Congress contributed greatly to building an India of their dreams. The leaders introduced new machineries and at the same time promoted India as an agricultural country recognizing its potential as on of the largest food producers of the world. The league was leaded under the leadership of the impressionable and determined lady Mrs. Indira Gandhi who was a visionary and is responsible for shaping up a large portion of the Indian history. After her assassination, which came as a big shock to the entire nation, the political legacy was continued by her son Rajiv Gandhi, who had introduced India to the concepts of telecommunication and petroleum which largely form the backbone of the economic boom in the country.
However, the scenario of the Congress party after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was pathetic and it suffered its status to the regional parties which became prominent in the next decade. This decade saw the rise of many political parties in India which flourished in the absence of any strong political entity. After nearly ten years of this absence from the political scenario Congress made its return in a grand way under the leadership of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, widow of Rajiv Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi who hails originally from Italy maintained a low profile all her life till she appeared in the political scenario.
Despite being condemned for her modern thinking and labeled as a foreigner by competitors, she has managed to answer her rivals with her appreciable work. She made possible the alliance of Congress and the UPA which rules many states of India and promoted Congress which itself rules many of the Indian states. She has contributed greatly to the Indian politics by proposing and introducing many new policies which have helped India develop and progress. Her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi too have been active participants in the process of the party’s political development. By following the party founder’s policy it is expected that Congress will again see its golden days and continue to lead the people of the country with its charismatic and strong presence.
Via: Paktribune
