What was the effect of the split between the two wings of the Congress on the National Movement?

The split in the Congress was unfortunate because it gave an opportunity to the British to exploit the situation to their advantage.

1. They adopted a policy of 'concession and repression' — concession for the Early Nationalists as well as the Muslims and repression to the Assertive Nationalists.
2. The Surat Split weakened the national movement.
3. The Early Nationalists, however, were largely able to capture the Congress organisation and in the Allahabad convention, held in April 1908, the split was formalised.