Swaraj Party

Established as the Congress-Khilafat Swaraj Party, the political party was formed in India on January 1, 1923. After the withdrawal of various events like the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Government of India Act 1919, and the 1923 elections, the party was established by CR Das and Motilal Nehru. It was formed after the annual conference of the National congress in Gaya in December 1922.  The name for this party was taken from the term ‘swaraj,’ which means ‘self-rule’ or ‘independence.’ CR Das, the President of the party, and Motilal Nehru, the secretary of the party, formed the party with an aim for contesting elections to enter the legislative council for obstructing the foreign government. 

Formation of the Swarajya Party

The withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement resulted in an unprecedented number of logical inconsistencies among the members of the National Conference. Some expressed their wish to continue the Non-Cooperation Movement, while the others wanted to contest the elections and end the legislature boycott. The former group included Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, C Rajagopalachari, etc. These were known as the no-changers or the orthodox Gandhians. On the other hand, leaders like C R Das, Motilal Nehru, Srinivasa Iyengar, etc., were known as the pro-changers or the Swarajists. They wanted to obstruct the British government and enter the legislative council. 

In 1922, CR Das proposed in Gaya to enter the legislatures, but the proposal was denied. It resulted in the breaking away of the National Congress, and the Swaraj Party was formed by the pro-changers. However, the victory of the no-changers in Gaya was not long-lived. It was because of the rising Hindu-Muslim riots in 1923 that completely changed and darkened the political atmosphere.

The Hindu-Muslim riots were a complex political battle for both- no-changers and the pro-changers. Hence, on the appeal of Gandhi, the two groups decided to stay in the National Congress but work in different ways. 

In September 1923, a special Congress session was held at Delhi, where the Congressmen were allowed to contest the elections under the president-ship of Maulana Azad. The Congress members were also encouraged to double their efforts to carry out the constructive program of Gandhi. This way, the split of the National Congress was avoided. 

Aims of the Party

The leaders who formed Swaraj Party aimed:

• to enter legislative council and obstruct the British government
• to obtain the right to form a constitution that suits the condition of the country
• to attain swaraj
• to provide the people of the country with the right to control the system of the government

Work of the Swaraj Party

Although the party aimed to enter the legislative council, it was not the sole purpose of the leaders who formed the Swaraj Party. Along with an objective to contest the elections, they wished to bring socio-economic reforms in the country, characterized as a constructive program by Gandhi. Gandhi aimed for freedom with two significant components- political campaigns and constructive programs. 

The Swarajists chose not to ignore Gandhi’s constructive program as they believed that one day they would have to leave the council and join the civil-disobedience movement with the no-changers. Hence, they supported the constructive program but in no way idealized Gandhi in this regard. 

Achievements of the party

• When the Non-Cooperation Movement got withdrawn, the Swaraj Party saved the passion for freedom-fight alive
• They smashed the Public Safety Bill in 1928
• Swarajist Vithalbhai Patel advanced toward becoming a speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925
• They outvoted the government, typically even in issues related to monetary gifts
• They gave scorching talks in the Assembly on self-rule and freedoms
• They expressed and exposed the drawbacks of Montagu-Chelmsford reforms 

The Decline of the Swarajya Party

The year 1924 witnessed the beginning of the enthusiasm of the Swarajists to weaken, and in the years 1925 to 1927, an eventual demoralization and decline of the Swarajists was noticed. The pro-changers failed to follow the policy of ‘ constant, continuous uniform obstruction’ inside the legislatures. Unfortunately, in 1925 the demise of CR Das further weakened the party. 

Conclusion

The Swaraj Party was established to attain independence or swaraj. The enthusiasm of the Swarajists helped the party achieve its goal and revitalized the dull political atmosphere. The party managed to bring back the excitement for freedom after the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement. But, due to some drawbacks, the party witnessed its decline and merged back with the National Congress, intending to achieve complete freedom from the British government.