THE LEAGUE OF CONGRESS PRESIDENTS SINCE 1947

JB KRIPALANI, 1947

He was arrested in 1942 during the Quit India movement. He was elected the president of the INC in 1946

JAGJIVAN RAM, 197071

He founded two organisations through which he involved the backward classes in the freedom struggle

B PATTABHI SITARAMAYYA, 194849

He became a member of the AICC in 1916. He also became the governor of MP

SHANKAR DAYAL SHARMA, 197274

He served as the President of India and also as governors of AP, Punjab and Maharashtra

PURUSHOTTAM DAS TANDON, 1950

He was a campaigner for Hindi to be made India’s national language

DEVANKANTA BARUA, 197577

Known for his remark ‘India is Indira, Indira is India’. But later joined anti-Indira group

INDIRA GANDHI,

1959 and 197883, 1983 & 84

She became the first woman PM of India. She declared a state of emergency in 1975

RAJIV GANDHI, 1985–91

His career was tarred by sectarian bloodshed. He was assassinated in May 1991

NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY, 1960, 1961, 196263

He was the first CM of Andhra. He also became a LS speaker and later the sixth President

PV NARASIMHA RAO, 1992–96

He was the ninth PM. Babri Masjid destruction in 1992 led to riots during his term

K KAMARAJ, 1964, 1965, 196667

He became the Madras CM in 1954. He was given the Bharat Ratna award posthumously.

SITARAM KESRI, 1996–98

He served as a Union minister in charge of many portfolios.

SIDDAVANALLI NIJALINGAPPA, 1968, 1969

He was first Karnataka CM. When INC split, he sided with faction against Indira Gandhi.

SONIA GANDHI, since 1998

She is the longest serving Cong president. Led the party to victory in 2004 LS polls