Congress Socialist Party — Definition

Definition

The Congress Socialist Party was formed in 1934 as an organised socialist current within the Indian National Congress. It linked complete independence with social and economic reconstruction, including changes in agrarian relations and control of important industries.

Acharya Narendra Deva and Jayaprakash Narayan were central figures in the May 1934 Patna initiative. Its position within Congress distinguished the founding strategy from the later decision to organise separately in 1948.

Socialist sympathy did not itself establish membership: Jawaharlal Nehru was influential in socialist debate but did not join the CSP.