Mahamana as a Statesman

From the beginning of his association with the Congress, he was one the most prominent members who worked on the structure and policies of the organization. He was elected its president for four times in 1909, 1918, 1932 and 1933. During the year 1932-33, the Congress sessions could not be held because of the suppression by the British government but Malaviyaji remained a source of immense inspiration for the party members. In the words of Dr. Pattabhi Sitarammaiya,"In the troublesome period of 1932-33, Malaviyaji through his unconquerable self-power and extraordinary strength encouraged and inspired the Congress workers. In case of doubts and difficulty, Congress workers went to him and never returned disappointed."
Malaviyaji favoured the inclusion of the rural agriculturists in the Congress party. In 1890, during the Calcutta session he gave an emphatic speech and moved a resolution for the same. Later on, when he was elected the President of Delhi session in 1918, he opened the doors of the party for them. This session witnessed the participation of more than a thousand agriculturists. In the same year he demanded that half of the members of Legislative Council should be elected by the people. As Malaviyaji was in favour of higher administrative posts both in Army and Civil Services, in the Allahabad session of 1892, he advocated that the Civil Service Commission should not only be conducted in England and but also in Indian and Indians also should be appointed to the higher posts. Malaviyaji was deeply disturbed with the poverty of India and it led him to present a graphic picture of the appalling poverty in the country in 1893.
In 1895, during the Pune Session with the efforts of Dadabhai Naoroji the government constituted the Royal Commission to estimate the expenses. Dadabhai, who was also a member of the parliament, was appointed as the member of this commission. He was asked to submit a report but failed to do so and entrusted Malaviyaji with this work.
The latter made an appeal to the government for transparency in the system. He said, “The process taking place in the closed rooms be done in open doors”. Malaviyaji's concern on the economic condition of the country was manifested in his speech delivered at 1896 Calcutta session of the Congress. During the 1897 session of the Congress at Amarawati, while presenting the report on the government's expenditure before the Royal Commission, Malaviyaji requested the government to curtail civil and defense expenses.