The national political party, which espouses secularism and *** of weaker sections and minorities, is the Indian National Congress.
Four features of this party are listed below :
(i) Founded in 1885.
(ii) Dominated Indian politics, both at the national and state levels, for several decades after India'* independence.
(iii) Ruling party at the center till 1977 and then from 1980 to 1989. After 1989. its support declined.
(iv) A centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation.
