Question

In which year did the Congress Party split?

Hint:

The historic first split of the Indian National Congress occurred in 1969 following the clash between Indira Gandhi's faction Congress (R) and the old-guard Syndicate's faction Congress (O).

Answer 1

Step 1: Background of the Congress Conflict:
Following the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966, Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister. However, a major internal rift soon emerged between Mrs. Gandhi and the powerful group of senior organizational leaders known as the “Syndicate”. This clash was both personal and ideological, centered on the control of the party and government policies.

Step 2: The Presidential Election of 1969:
The conflict came to a head during the 1969 presidential election. The Syndicate nominated Sanjiva Reddy as the official Congress candidate, while Indira Gandhi openly supported the independent candidate, V.V. Giri, calling for a “conscience vote” among party MPs. Giri's victory confirmed Indira Gandhi's dominance and led to the formal split of the party.

Step 3: The Split of 1969:
In November 1969, the Congress split into two factions:
• Congress (O): The “Organization” faction, led by the traditional Syndicate.
• Congress (R): The “Requisitionist” faction, led by Indira Gandhi, which eventually emerged as the dominant Congress party.