Provincial Election and Formation of Cabinet (1937) is part of Modern History of India. Below are notes on 5 sub-topics, followed by practice MCQs from State PSC and UPSC papers (coming soon).

Formation of Congress Ministries: Provinces and Leaders

  • Provincial elections were held in 1937 under the Government of India Act, 1935.
  • The Indian National Congress secured clear majorities in 5 provinces: Madras, Bombay, Central Provinces & Berar, United Provinces, and Bihar.
  • Congress emerged as the single largest party in 3 other provinces: Orissa, NWFP, and Assam.
  • Congress formed ministries in 6 provinces initially (Madras, Bombay, UP, Bihar, CP & Berar, Orissa) and later in 2 more (NWFP, Assam), making a total of 8 provinces.
  • Provinces where Congress did NOT form ministries: Bengal, Punjab, and Sindh.
  • Key Leaders in Congress Ministries (Premiers/Chief Ministers):
  • Madras: C. Rajagopalachari
  • Bombay: B.G. Kher
  • United Provinces (UP): Govind Ballabh Pant; Rafi Ahmad Kidwai (Minister for Revenue, Jails)
  • Bihar: Shri Krishna Sinha; Anugrah Narayan Sinha (Minister for Finance)
  • Central Provinces & Berar: N.B. Khare (initial Premier); later Pt. Ravishankar Shukla
  • Orissa: Harekrushna Mahtab
  • NWFP: Dr. Khan Saheb
  • Assam: Gopinath Bordoloi
  • Notable Non-Congress Ministries:
  • Bengal: Fazlul Haque (Premier of Krishak Praja Party & Muslim League coalition); he was known as 'Sher-i-Bangal'.
  • Punjab: Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan (Premier of Unionist Party).

Major Political Parties and their Stances on Elections (Congress, Muslim League)

  • Congress adopted 'Vande Mataram' as its national song.
  • Muslim League, led by M.A. Jinnah, objected to 'Vande Mataram' in 1937-39, considering it idolatrous and anti-Muslim; Congress continued its use in legislative councils, clarifying that only the un-objectionable first two stanzas were to be sung and it was not compulsory.
  • Sir Syed Ahmed Khan actively opposed the Indian National Congress from its inception and consistently advocated for separate Muslim political interests, never fighting for Congress.
  • 1937 Provincial Election Personalities & Parties:
  • B.R. Ambedkar: Independent Labour Party (ILP).
  • Sikander Hayat Khan: Unionist Party (Punjab).
  • Fazlul Huq: Krishak Praja Party (KPP) (Bengal).
  • Khaliquzzaman: All-India Muslim League (prominent in United Provinces).

Performance of the Muslim League and Other Parties

  • 1937 Provincial Elections - Congress Performance:
    • Secured absolute majorities in 5 provinces: Madras, Central Provinces, United Provinces, Bihar, Orissa.
    • Formed ministries in 7 provinces (adding Bombay and NWFP). Later formed a coalition in Assam (total 8).
    • Emerged as the largest party overall.
  • 1937 Provincial Elections - Muslim League Performance:
    • Performed poorly, failing to secure a majority in any province.
    • Won only 106 out of 482 Muslim reserved seats.
    • Did not form an independent government anywhere. Participated in coalition governments (e.g., Bengal with Krishak Praja Party).
  • 1937 Provincial Elections - Other Parties:
    • Punjab: Unionist Party formed the government.
    • Bengal: Krishak Praja Party formed a coalition government with the Muslim League.
    • Sindh: Non-Congress government formed.
  • 1946 Provincial Elections - Muslim League Performance (Key for MCQ):
    • Achieved overwhelming success in Muslim-reserved constituencies.
    • Formed governments in Bengal (under H. S. Suhrawardy) and Sindh (under Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah).
    • Did not form government in NWFP (Congress did).
    • Did not form government in Punjab (Unionist Party formed initially, with Congress & Akalis).
    • Did not form government in Bihar (Congress did).

Resignation of Congress Ministries (Context of World War II)

  • Congress ministries formed in July 1937 after 1937 provincial elections.
  • Elected Government of Bihar, led by Premier Shri Krishna Singh, resigned in February 1938 over the Governor's refusal to release political prisoners.
  • On September 3, 1939, Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared India a belligerent in World War II without consulting Indian leaders.
  • Congress demanded a clear declaration of British war aims and immediate steps towards establishing a truly responsible government in India.
  • Viceroy's offer (October 1939) was deemed unsatisfactory by Congress as it did not address their core demands.
  • Congress Working Committee called upon the Congress ministries to resign in protest.
  • Congress ministries resigned in OctoberNovember 1939.
  • The tenure of the Congress Ministries was approximately 28 months (July 1937 to Oct/ Nov 1939).

39. Tripuri Crisis of Congress (1939)

Results of the Provincial Elections: Congress Dominance

  • Franchise: Voting rights extended to approximately 10-12% of the total population.
  • Untouchables' Vote: Untouchables possessed the right to vote in these elections.
  • Congress Absolute Majority: Indian National Congress secured an absolute majority in 5 out of 11 provinces: Madras, United Provinces (UP), Central Provinces (CP), Bihar, and Orissa.
  • Congress Single Largest Party: Congress emerged as the single largest party in 3 additional provinces: Bombay, Assam, and North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).
  • Congress Government Formation: Congress formed governments in a total of 8 provinces (the 5 with absolute majority plus Bombay, Assam, and NWFP).
  • "Clear Majority" (as per some interpretations/ questions): Congress is sometimes considered to have secured a "clear majority" in 6 provinces (the 5 absolute majority provinces plus Bombay, where it was very close to an absolute majority and formed government easily).
  • Provinces Congress Did Not Form Government: Punjab, Sind, and Bengal.
    • Punjab: Unionist Party formed the government.
    • Sindh: A coalition government was formed.
    • Bengal: A coalition government of Krishak Praja Party and the Muslim League was formed.
  • Muslim League Performance: Performed poorly, winning only about 23% (106 out of 482) of the seats reserved for Muslims; it did not win more than 80% of reserved Muslim seats.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose was re-elected Congress President at the Tripuri Session (1939), defeating Mahatma Gandhi's preferred candidate, Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
  • Significant differences arose between Bose and Mahatma Gandhi/Congress Working Committee (CWC) regarding future policies and the composition of the CWC.
  • Bose resigned from the Congress Presidentship in April 1939 due to these irreconcilable differences.
  • Following Bose's resignation, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected/appointed as the new Congress President.
  • Subsequently, in May 1939, Bose formed the Forward Bloc within the Congress.