The remarkable success of the Congress party can be traced back to its deep roots in the legacy of the freedom struggle. Being viewed as the rightful heir of the national movement, the Congress party attracted leaders who had actively participated in the battle, many of whom contested elections as Congress candidates. With its well-established organization, the Congress party had already initiated its campaign while other parties were still strategizing. In fact, several parties were formed either around Independence or after that, giving the Congress party a significant advantage as it was the first to embark on political endeavours.

Which of the following statements is correct?

I- Congress was formed in the year 1885.

II- It began as a party dominated by agriculture-based leaders with a rural orientation.

Only statement I is correct.

The Congress party evolved from a pressure group for the educated, professional, and commercial classes in 1885 to a mass movement in the twentieth century.
Its initial composition was dominated by English-speaking, upper-caste, upper-middle-class, and urban elites.
However, with each civil disobedience movement, the Congress party expanded its social base and brought together diverse groups with often contradictory interests.
It included peasants, industrialists, urban and rural dwellers, workers, owners, and people from various social classes and castes.
Over time, the Congress party's leadership expanded beyond the upper caste and upper-class professionals to include leaders with a rural orientation and agricultural backgrounds.
By the time of independence, the Congress party had transformed into a social coalition representing India's diversity in terms of classes, castes, religions, languages, and various interests.
While some groups merged their identity within the Congress, others maintained their distinct beliefs and continued to exist within the party.