1. The Mainstream & Splinter Parties
These groups either emerged from the Indian National Congress (INC) or were closely tied to its nationalist goals.
- Indian National Congress (INC): The dominant force.
- Leaders: Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose.
- Indian National Liberal Federation (INLF – 1919): Formed by “Moderates” who left the Congress to support the 1919 Reforms.
- Leaders: Surendranath Banerjee, Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.R. Jayakar.
- Swaraj Party (1923): Formed within the Congress to contest elections and “wreck the councils from within.”
- Leaders: C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Vithalbhai Patel.
- Nationalist Party (1926): The “Responsivist” wing of the Swarajists who leaned toward protecting Hindu interests.
- Leaders: Madan Mohan Malviya, Lala Lajpat Rai.
- Congress Socialist Party (CSP – 1934): A left-wing caucus within the INC.
- Leaders: Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), Achyut Patwardhan, Ram Manohar Lohia.
- Forward Bloc (1939): Formed by Bose after he resigned as INC President.
- Leader: Subhash Chandra Bose.
2. Communal & Identity-Based Parties
These parties focused on the specific interests of religious or social communities.
- All-India Muslim League (1906): Gained massive momentum after 1937.
- Leaders: M.A. Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan.
- Hindu Mahasabha (1915): Focused on Hindu nationalism.
- Leaders: V.D. Savarkar, Madan Mohan Malviya (initially), B.S. Moonje.
- Justice Party (1916): A non-Brahmin movement in the Madras Presidency.
- Leaders: T.M. Nair, P. Tyagaraya Chetty, E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar).
- Akali Dal (1920): Formed to represent Sikh interests and manage Gurudwaras.
- Leader: Master Tara Singh.
- Unionist Party (1923): A secular party of landlords in Punjab (opposed to Partition).
- Leaders: Sir Fazl-i-Hussain, Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan.
- Krishak Praja Party (1929): Represented the tenant farmers of Bengal.
- Leader: A.K. Fazlul Huq.
3. Leftist & Radical Parties
- Communist Party of India (CPI – 1925): Formed in Kanpur (officially) to bring a Marxist revolution.
- Leaders: M.N. Roy (founder), S.A. Dange, P.C. Joshi.
- Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF – 1942): Precursor to the Republican Party of India.
- Leader: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
- Radical Democratic Party (1940): Formed by M.N. Roy after he broke away from the CPI/Congress.