The Soviet of Workers' Deputies soon had between 400-500 members

The Soviet of Workers' Deputies soon had between 400-500 members (elected by around 200,000 mainly industrial workers[3]), representing five trade unions and 96 factories around St. Petersburg. Initially, its members were largely local politically conscious workers but it was rapidly dominated by established radical groups. The Mensheviks were most influential, while members from the Bolsheviks and Esers remained a minority. During the 1905 revolution, Leon Trotsky returned from exile to became Nosar's deputy in the Soviet. After the arrest of Nosar, Trotsky became chairman and swiftly altered the party's agenda. Under his more pragmatic leadership, the general strike was called off because it was feared that it would provide the imperial government with an excuse for greater oppression.

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