The Congress policy of pray and petition ultimately came to an end under the guidance of

1. The question asks under whose guidance the Congress policy of pray and petition ultimately came to an end. 2. The policy of 'pray and petition', characterized by constitutional agitation, appeals, and resolutions, was the hallmark of the early Moderates phase of the Indian National Congress. 3. This approach was increasingly criticized by the 'Extremist' faction within the Congress, who advocated for more assertive methods like Swadeshi, Boycott, and Passive Resistance. 4. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a prominent leader of the Extremist faction (along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal - Lal-Bal-Pal). He famously declared "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!" and strongly advocated for self-reliance and direct action, marking a decisive shift away from the earlier methods. 5. Aurobindo Ghosh was also associated with the Extremist phase but later turned towards spiritualism. 6. Lala Lajpat Rai was another key Extremist leader. 7. Mahatma Gandhi later led the Congress with methods like Satyagraha and Non-cooperation, which were also different from 'pray and petition', but the shift *away* from that specific policy is most strongly associated with the rise of the Extremists led by figures like Tilak. 8. Therefore, Bal Gangadhar Tilak is considered a key figure under whose guidance the old policy declined.