UPSC Prelims 2026 Question:

Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939?

1. Bose failed to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi. 
2. The Congress Left was disunited and failed to support Bose. 
3. The Communists did not support Bose in his endeavours. 
4. The supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan preferred Congress unity to  supporting Bose.
   
   

Select the answer using the code given below:

Explanation: 

The Forward Bloc was a political party formed in India in 1939 by Subhas Chandra Bose. Bose, a prominent  leader within the Indian National Congress, grew disillusioned with Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent approach to  achieving independence.

• After Bose was re-elected as Congress President in 1939, he failed to retain the confidence and support  of Mahatma Gandhi and the Gandhian group. Gandhi did not approve Bose’s political approach and  refused to support the formation of a Working Committee according to Bose’s wishes. This politically  isolated Bose within the Congress. So, statement 1 is correct.
• Subhas Chandra Bose aimed to forge an uncompromising radical front against the British. However, the  left-wing in the Congress was fragmented and did not provide cohesive backing during his standoff  with the moderates. So, statement 2 is correct.
• Bose's isolation was driven by Gandhi's opposition and the CSP/Royists prioritizing Congress unity. The  Communists, conversely, were among the few factions that initially backed Bose's radical block. So,  statement 3 is not correct.
• During the passing of the Govind Ballabh Pant resolution (which demanded that Bose form his  Working Committee in accordance with Gandhi's wishes), socialist leaders (like those in the  Congress Socialist Party) and followers of M.N. Roy abstained from opposing the resolution to  prevent splitting the Congress. This isolation pushed Bose to form the Forward Bloc to independently  consolidate leftist forces. So, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.