New Delhi, December 28: Indian’s oldest political party – Congress – is celebrating its 134th foundation day across the country and planning mega events at several places across the country. The party which was founded by British officer Allan Octavian Hume on December 28, 1985, became the most influential organisation of the long independence movement, which was attained on August 15, 1947.

With the grand old party trying to regain power in the Centre, several events are lined up at each Pradesh Congress Committee, and senior leaders are expected to attend the events. Party president Rahul Gandhi is expected to address the leaders and most likely to appeal them to unite all their energy to work extensively for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections in 2019. Congress President Rahul Interacts with Youth as Part of NSUI's 'Behtar Bharat Campaign'.

In the recently held Assembly elections in five states, Congress attained victory in three states under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, and with an aim to continue to victory march, the party would not leave a stone to ensure it.

The Formation:

The party which was formed by AO Humes was founded at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay (now Mumbai), with 72 delegates attending the event. Calcutta’s Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee was elected as the first president, while Humes was made the general secretary.

Though the party was formed with an aim to integrate the intellectual minds at one place, later the party members started their protest against the British government and played an essential role in the independence of the country. Considered as the pioneer of the Congress, Lokmanya Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Jawaharlal Nehru or Mohammed Ali Jinnah, all stood up against the British empire. This forced them to leave the country.

Congress after Independence:

Congress was the first party which formed the government after independence, and Jawaharlal Nehru became the first prime minister of India. Following his footsteps, even his daughter, Indira Gandhi too became the premier of the nation, who was succeeded by Rajiv Gandhi. But after their death, the Congress could not stand that tall and stated losing the popularity.

Citing the fall of the party, Rajiv’s wife Sonia Gandhi took charge of the party and Congress came in the centre for 10-long-years (2004-2014), succeeded by Bharatiya Janata Party’s Narendra Modi. Now, with the Lok Sabha Elections just months away, party current president – Rahul Gandhi – has taken charge and is working to ensure the success of the party.

It would be interesting to see whether the Congress would see the golden days back in 2019 or will see the fall once again.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2018 10:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).