Who was the proponent of ‘Congress system’ ? 

Correct option is B

The term "Congress System" was introduced by Rajni Kothari, a political scientist, in his book "Politics in India" (1970).

• He described the Congress System as a dominant-party system where the Indian National Congress functioned as an umbrella party, accommodating multiple interests and ideologies.
• He argued that despite being a single-party dominant system, Congress acted as a broad coalition rather than a traditional one-party rule.

Features of the Congress System:

1. Congress as a Broad Umbrella: It included diverse groups (Left, Right, Center) within a single party.
2. Factionalism within Congress was managed internally, preventing opposition growth.
3. Opposition existed but was not strong enough to challenge Congress.
4. Democratic Stability: Despite dominance, the system allowed elections and political participation.
5. Leadership Centrality: Leaders like Nehru played a key role in maintaining unity.
6. Decline of the System: The system began to collapse after 1967 when regional parties gained strength.