In 1947- J. B. Kripalani presided over the Meerut session in 1947. He was one of the most ardent disciples of Mahatma Gandhi and was president of INC during transfer of power from Britain to India in 1947. ? In the election of the Congress President in 1950, Kriplani was defeated by Purushottam Das Tandon. Congress Party: An Indian political party founded in 1885 as Indian National Congress. Founded by Allen Hume, a British colonist and, until World War-I it was a moderate body. Later, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, it began a campaign of non-violent non-cooperation. It was declared illegal between 1932-34. It led the movement to end British rule and was the government party after independence from 1947-77. Key people-Congress Party Leader: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958): Leading Muslim member of Congress Party; Congress president, 1940-1946; Indian education minister after independence. Jawaharlal (Pandit) Nehru(1889-1964) Barrister and politician in the United Provinces of India; a supporter of Gandhi; President of Indian National Congress, 1929, 1936-37, 1946, 1951-54; first prime minister of India, 1947-1964.