The Swaraj Party, also known as the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party, was formed in 1923 to continue the struggle for self-government through legislative means after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement. It marked a shift in strategy from mass protests to working within the system to obstruct colonial rule.
Background
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The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922) was suspended by Mahatma Gandhi after the Chauri Chaura incident, leaving a gap in nationalist politics.
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Moderates wanted to work with the British within legislatures, while Extremists wanted direct confrontation.
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Leaders like Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru proposed entering the legislative councils to oppose British policies from within.
Formation of Swaraj Party
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Founded in January 1923 at Nagpur.
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Key leaders included Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das) as the President, Motilal Nehru, M. R. Jayakar, and S. Srinivasa Iyengar.
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It aimed to win seats in provincial councils and legislative councils to hinder British administration and promote self-government.
Objectives
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To achieve self-rule (Swaraj) by obstructing the functioning of colonial legislatures.
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To expose the inefficiency and injustice of British governance from within the system.
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To prepare India for eventual independence by using constitutional and legislative methods.
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To educate the masses about political issues and create awareness of their rights.
Methods
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Contesting elections for provincial and central legislative councils.
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Using motions, debates, and resignations to embarrass and disrupt the colonial government.
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Combining constitutional methods with the spirit of nationalist agitation.
Achievements
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The Swaraj Party became a major political force in Bengal, Madras, and Bombay provinces.
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Introduced legislative obstruction (Poorna Swaraj through council work) as a new tactic.
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Influenced the working of provincial councils, forcing the British to pay attention to Indian demands.
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Maintained nationalist momentum between the Non-Cooperation Movement (1922) and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930).
Limitations
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Could not achieve immediate Swaraj or significant transfer of power.
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Divisions within Congress persisted, as Gandhi remained opposed to entering councils.
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British authorities still retained overriding powers and could ignore council resolutions.
Key Takeaway
The Swaraj Party (1923) represented a strategic shift in India’s freedom struggle, combining nationalism with constitutional methods. It demonstrated that Indians could use legislatures as a tool of resistance, keeping the nationalist movement alive during the lull between mass movements.