What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907? [2016]

What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?

Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto
Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
Foundation of Muslim League
Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress

INC in 1907:
- Militants wanted to: Hold the 1907 session in Nagpur (Central Provinces) with Tilak or Lajpat Rai as the president.
- Retain the four Resolutions passed in the Calcutta session.
- Moderates wanted to:
- Hold the at 1907 session Surat to exclude Tilak from the presidency since a leader from the host province could not be session president (Surat being in Tilak’s home province of Bombay). Instead, they wanted Rash Behari Ghosh to be the president.
- Drop the four Resolutions passed in the Calcutta session.

Both sides adopted rigid positions, leaving no room for compromise. The split became inevitable.
The Congress session was held on 26 December 1907 at Surat. The extremists demanded assurance that four resolutions would be passed. They opposed the elected President, Rash Behari Ghose, to pressure the Moderates. Extremists’ did not have faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government.
There were shouts and counter-shouts, brandishing of sticks and unrolling of turbans, breaking of chairs and brushing of heads. Finally, the Congress divided, and the moderate leaders, having captured the machinery of the Congress, excluded the militant elements from it.
The two groups reunited in December 1915. In the following year, the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League signed the Lucknow Pact and agreed to jointly work for establishing a representative government in the country.

Lord Minto was the Viceroy and Governor-General of India from 1905-10. He is known as the father of the communal electorate.
Important events during his tenure:
- Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley–Minto Reforms)
- Provided separate electorate for Muslims.
- Played an important role in dividing Hindus and Muslims
- Formation of Muslim League
- Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
- Surat Split
- Alipore conspiracy case

In 1906, under the leadership of the Aga Khan (First president of AIML), the Nawab of Dacca, Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur, and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, the educated Muslims, Muslim nawabs and landlords founded the Muslim League.

In 1907, Aurobindo faced sedition charges for leading against the British and his patriotic writings against the British. After being acquitted, he presided over the Nationalist Conference of Congress party in Surat. In 1908, Aurobindo was tried in the Alipore conspiracy case. After a year’s imprisonment as an undertrial prisoner, he was acquitted due to the lack of evidence.