Bombay Presidency elections, 1937

The elections to the two houses of legislatures of the Bombay Presidency were held in 1937, as part of the nationwide provincial elections in British India. The Indian National Congress was the single largest party by winning 86 of 175 seats in the Legislative Assembly and 13 of 60 seats in the Legislative Council.

The Congress Government that was formed after the elections under B. G. Kher lasted till October 1939, when it resigned protesting India's involvement in the Second World War. The next election was held in 1946.

Government of India Act of 1935

The Government of India Act of 1935 abolished dyarchy and ensured provincial autonomy. It created a bicameral legislature in the Bombay province. The Legislature consisted of the Governor and two Legislative bodies - a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. The Assembly consisted of 175 members who were further classified into General seats and those reserved for special communities and interests. The Legislative Council consisted of 60 members. It was a permanent body not subject to dissolution by the Governor and one-third of its members retired every three years.

The Act provided for a limited adult franchise based on property qualifications.[1]

Results

The Congress contested 110 out of the total 175 seats in the assembly out of which 97 were general constituencies. For the council, it contested 15 out of the 26 seats where elections took place.

In the assembly, 15 seats were reserved for the Scheduled Castes. B. R. Ambedkar's Independent Labour Party secured one seat unopposed and contested 8 seats out of which it won 5.[2]

Legislative Assembly

Party wise break up of seats in the Bombay Legislative Assembly:[3]

Total Number of Seats : 175

Party Seats
Indian National Congress88
Independents32
Muslim League20
Independent Labour Party12
Europeans, Anglo-Indians and Indian Christians8
Non-Brahman8
Democratic Swarajya Party5
Peasants Party2
Total175
Source: Schwartzberg Atlas

[4]

Legislative Council

Party wise break up of seats in the Bombay Legislative Council:

Total Number of Seats : 30

Party Seats
Indian National Congress13
Independents9
Muslim League2
Democratic Swarajya Party2
Appointed by Governor4
Total30
Source: Schwartzberg Atlas

Government formation

Although the Indian National Congress won the elections, the party declined to form the government. The Governor Sir George Lloyd invited Sir Dhanjishah Cooper (independent member from Satara North constituency[5] ), to form an interim ministry which was joined by Jamnadas Mehta of the Democratic Swarajya Party, Sir Siddappa T. Kambli of the Non-Brahmin Party and Hoosenally Rahimtoola of the Muslim League.[4][6][7][8]

Minister Portfolio
Dhanjishah Cooper Chief Minister, Home & General
Jamnadas Mehta Revenue & Finance
Sir Siddappa T. Kambli Education, Excise & Agriculture
Hoosenally Rahimtoola Local Self-government

Kher's Cabinet

The Cooper ministry did not last long and a Congress ministry under B. G. Kher was sworn.

Council of Ministers in Kher's Cabinet:[9][10]

Minister Portfolio
B. G. Kher Premier, Political & Services, Education and Labour
K. M. Munshi Home & Legal
Anna Babaji Latthe Finance
Morarji Desai Revenue, Agriculture, Forests and Cooperatives
Dr. Manchersha Dhanjibhoy Gilder Public Health and Excise[11]
Mahmad Yasin Nurie Public Works[12]
Laxman Madhav Patil Industries and Local Self-Government

References

  1. ↑ Low, David Anthony (1993). Eclipse of empire. Cambridge University Press. p. 154. ISBN 0-521-45754-8, ISBN 978-0-521-45754-5.
  2. ↑ http://www.rediff.com/freedom/29ambed1.htm
  3. ↑ Natesan, G. A. (1937). The Indian review, Volume 38. G.A. Natesan & Co. p. 151.
  4. 1 2 Reed, Stanley (1937). The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett, Coleman & Company.
  5. ↑ Srinivasan, Ramona (1992). The Concept of Diarchy. NIB Publishers. p. 315.
  6. ↑ http://www.savarkar.org/en/social-reforms/q
  7. ↑ "The Bombay Ministers". The Indian Express. 31 March 1937. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "New Ministries for Other Provinces". The Indian Express. 2 April 1937. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  9. ↑ Kamat, M. V. (1989). B.G. Kher, the gentleman premier. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 251.
  10. ↑ Indian Annual Register, Volume 1. Annual Register Office. 1939.
  11. ↑ http://www.kamat.com/database/biographies/m_d_gilder.htm
  12. ↑ http://www.kamat.com/database/biographies/n_y_nurie.htm
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