Previous Year Question

In 1923, Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das) and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party. Its background was connected with the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 and the strategic differences that subsequently emerged within the Congress.

At the Gaya Session of the Congress in 1922, C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru argued that instead of continuing the boycott of the legislative councils, nationalists should enter them and oppose colonial rule from within.

The Gandhian leaders who opposed this policy were known as No-Changers, while those favouring entry into the councils were called Pro-Changers. After the council-entry proposal was not accepted, the Swaraj Party emerged.

The Swarajists aimed to enter the Legislative Councils created under the Government of India Act, 1919, obstruct government policies from within and exert pressure for constitutional reforms.

C.R. Das was the principal leader and President of the Party, while Motilal Nehru played an important role in its parliamentary leadership at the central level. The Swarajists achieved notable success in several legislative councils in the elections of 1923.

Rather than completely separating from the Congress and abandoning the national movement, the Swaraj Party adopted the strategy of Council Entry while continuing to function within the Congress framework.