ften called the Congress Party or simply Congress) is a broadly based political party in India.[15]Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa.[a][16] From the late 19th century, and especially after 1920, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Congress became the principal LEADER of the Indian independence movement.[17] Congress LED India to independence from Great Britain,[b][18][c][19] and powerfully influenced other anti-colonial nationalist movements in the British Empire.[d][16]Indian National CongressAbbreviationINCPresidentRahul GandhiParliamentary ChairpersonSonia Gandhi[1]Lok Sabha leaderMallikarjun Kharge[2]Rajya Sabha leaderGhulam Nabi Azad(Leader of the Opposition)[3]FounderAllan Octavian HumeDadabhai NaorojiDinshaw WachaFounded28 December 1885(133 years ago)Headquarters24, Akbar Road, New DELHI 110001[4]NewspaperCongress SandeshStudent wingNational Students Union of IndiaYouth wingIndian Youth CongressWomen's wingAll India Mahila CongressLabour wingIndian National Trade Union CongressMinority wingMinority CongressMembershipc. 20–40 million[5]IdeologySocial democracyDemocratic socialismSocial liberalismIndian nationalismHindu left[6]Swadeshi movementGandhian socialismSecularismProgressivismPolitical positionCentre-left[7]International affiliationProgressive ALLIANCE[8]Socialist International[9]Colours     Sky blue[10][11]ECI StatusNational Party[12]AllianceUnited Progressive Alliance (UPA)Seats in Lok Sabha47 / 545[13](currently 521 members + 1 Speaker)Seats in Rajya Sabha50 / 245(currently 244members)[14]Election symbol