Jawaharlal Nehru (1937-41)

Nehru closely worked with Subhash Bose in developing good relations with governments of free countries all over the world. However, the two split in the late 1930s, when Bose agreed to seek the help of fascists in driving the British out of India. At the same time, Nehru had supported the Republicans who were fighting against Francisco Franco's forces in the Spanish Civil War. Nehru along with his aide V.K. Krishna Menon visited Spain and declared support for the Republicans. Nehru refused to meet Benito Mussolini, the dictator of Italy when the latter expressed his desire to meet him.

Republicanism

Nehru was one of the first nationalist leaders to realise the sufferings of the people in the states ruled by Indian Princes. He suffered imprisonment in Nabha, a princely state, when he went there to see the struggle that was being waged by the Sikhs against the corrupt Mahants. The nationalist movement had been confined to the territories under direct British rule. Nehru helped to make the struggle of the people in the princely states a part of the nationalist movement for independence. The All India states people's conference was formed in 1927. Nehru who had been supporting the cause of the people of the princely states for many years was made the President of the conference in 1935. He opened up its ranks to membership from across the political spectrum. The body would play an important role during the political integration of India, helping Indian leaders Vallabhbhai Patel and V.P. Menon (to whom Nehru had delegated the task of integrating the princely states into India) negotiate with hundreds of princes.

Nehru with Indira,Rajib and Sanjoy ,elaborated the policies of the Congress and a future Indian Nation under his leadership in 1929. He declared that the aims of the congress were freedom of religion, right to form associations, freedom of expression of thought, equality before law for every individual without distinction of caste, colour, creed or religion, protection to regional languages and cultures, safeguarding the interests of the peasants and labour, abolition of untouchability, introduction of adult franchise, imposition of prohibition, Nationalisation of industries, Socialism, and establishment of a secular India. All these aims formed the core of the "Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy" resolution drafted by Nehru in 1929–31 and were ratified by the All India Congress Committee under Gandhi's leadership. However, some Congress leaders objected to the resolution and decided to oppose Nehru.
When the British promulgated the Government of India Act 1935, the Congress Party decided to contest elections. Nehru stayed out of the elections, but campaigned vigorously nationwide for the party. The Congress formed governments in almost every province, and won the largest number of seats in the Central Assembly. Nehru was elected to the Congress presidency in 1936, 1937, and 1946, and came to occupy a position in the nationalist movement second only to that of Gandhi. Read more at http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/jawaharlal-nehru.html#PV9Mbg745SLYeUc8.99

The espousal of socialism as the Congress goal was most difficult to achieve. Nehru was opposed in this by the right-wing Congressmen Sardar Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari. Nehru had the support of the left-wing Congressmen Maulana Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose. The trio combined to oust Dr. Prasad as Congress President in 1936. Nehru was elected in his place and held the presidency for two years (1936–37). Nehru was then succeeded by his socialist colleagues Bose (1938–39) and Azad (1940–46).
His popularity continued to grow , and his personal discomfort with that popularity rose with it. In Nov 1937 issue of the Calcutta based journal  Modern Review, an article entitled ' The Rashtrapati' severely criticised him. The vanonymous author acknowledged Nehru's initiative and innate drive but also pointed out glaring streaks of autocracy , saying that his character was marked by " intolerance of others and a certain contempt for the weak and inefficient. " The author who signed himself "Chanakya", added that Nehru's conceit was "already formidabld", and worried that soon  " Jawaharlal might fancy himself as a Caesar". It was not suspected at the time that Chanakya was Nehru himself. This publication is a significantly important example of autocritique.
Congress President
The failure of talks with British caused  Dec 1929 session in Lahore to be held in an atmosphere charged with anti-Empire sentiment. Preparing for the declaration of Independence , the AICC elected Jawaharlal Nehru as Congress President at the encouragement of Gandhi. Nehru himself recalled that he was sensible of the fact that it was considered somewhat surprising
" I have seldom felt quite so annoyed and humiliated ...It is not that I was not sensible of the honour... But I did not come to it by the main entrance or even the side entrance. I appeared suddenly from a trap door and bewildered the audience into acceptance."
Nehru had been re-elected  Indian National Congress (INC) President in 1936, and had presided over its session in Lucknau session. Younger socialists such as Jaya Prakash Narayan, Mridula Sarabhai, Narendra Dev, Asoka Mehta began to see nehru as leader of Congress socialists. Under their presure , the congress passed the Avadi Resolution proclaiming socialism as the model for India's future government . Nehru was relected the following year, and oversaw the congress national campaign forvthe 1937 elections.Largely leaving political organisation work to others, Nehru travelled the length and breadth of the country , exhorting th masses on behalf of the Congress , which would win an outright majority in the central and most of th provincial legislatures. Although he did not context lections himself, Nehru waxs seen by the national media as the leader of the Congress
At the outbreak of World War II
the assemblies were informed that th Viceroy had unilaterally declared war on the Axis on behalf of India , without consulting the people's representatives.