The growing unrest among the workers, peasants and soldiers and the prevailing anarchical conditions in the country were fully exploited by the Bolsheviks. They won popular support by promising nationalization of land as well as banks and industries.
As a result they succeeded in gaining popular support in the elections to town and provincial Soviets. They also won over the soldiers to their side by promising them peace, which they had been longing for.
Encouraged by its popularity the Bolsheviks decided to organize an armed uprising. They intensified propaganda for direct action and formed their own Red Guards. As a result, large number of soldiers left the ranks and the peasants continued to seize lands of proprietors through plunder and murder. In October 1917 Lenin created the Military Revolutionary Committee, which gave the Bolsheviks an effective control over the troops in Petrograd.
They had already raised the Red Guards (armed factory workers). Lenin wanted to take full advantage of the revolutionary mood existing in the country and favoured a revolt at an early date. A Politburo, an inner group of the committee, was formed to take necessary decision in this regard. On the other hand, the Provisional Government headed by Kerensky proceeded with certain counter measures to meet the Bolshevik threat. But as the government did not enjoy sufficient authority it could not succeed.