Answer:
Yes, it did, because it represented a secular and igualitarian force for all Indians, despite their religion or social status.
Explanation:
The Indian National Congress, also known as the Congress Party, is one of six political parties in India, one of the two major parties in the country. It is considered to be social liberal and secular, while the Bharatiya Janata Party stands for a conservative orientation and Hindu nationalism.
The Congress Party was founded in 1885 and is one of the oldest democratic parties in the world. It was the leading movement in the Indian struggle for independence. For a long time it was the dominant political party in India and most of its prime ministers and presidents came from its ranks.
The Congress Party has traditionally been considered the great integrative force in the Indian party landscape. From the very beginning, she emphasized the secular, religion-neutral character of the Indian state - in contrast to neighboring Pakistan, which defined itself as the "Islamic State", and also in contrast to the Hindu nationalists, who called for the Indian state to be founded on the Hindu majority culture.
