1. Introduction
2. Towards Constitutionalism
3. Towards Elections
3.1. Elections to Local Bodies
3.2. Lucknow Congress
3.3. Election Manifesto
3.4. Faizpur Congress
4. Elections of 1937
4.1. Selection of Candidates
4.2. Election Campaign
4.3. Election Results
5. Office Acceptance
6. Congress Ministries at Work
6.1. Political Prisoners and Civil Liberties
6.2. The Peasants’ Question
6.3. Labour
6.4. Constructive Programme
6.5. Some Problems Faced by Congress
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Topic – Formation of Congress Ministries (Notes)
Subject – History
(Modern Indian History)
Table of Contents
Introduction
The period between 1936 and 1939 was a period of political transformation for the Congress. It was when the Congress opted for constitutional politics, suspending the path of agitation and confrontation. However, unlike the earlier Swarajist phase, its present aim was to give the constitutional methods a trial and the Congressmen worked for their success. There were many differences among the Congressmen regarding the constitutional method. In fact, every decision taken up by the Congress was strongly debated upon before its adoption.
Though there was an agreement on the basic issue of fighting British imperialism, Congressmen disagreed on the methods to be adopted. It was during this period that the Left Wing was making its presence felt within the Congress. The Right Wing and the Left Wing discussed and debated on various issues. After a hectic debate the Congress decided to contest the 1937 elections and was successful in forming governments in seven provinces.
The Congress ministries functioned for a little more than two years. They had to sort out a number of problems during their short tenure in office. Different social classes had their own expectations from the Congress and accordingly their aspirations went up with the Congress coming into power. The Congress succeeded in implementing certain principles for which it stood. But there were other issues on which the Congress was divided from within.
Although the Congress resigned office in September 1939, its two-year period in office had been of great significance in the freedom struggle. In fact, this made it clear to the people of India that they could have their own government.
Towards Constitutionalism
After the failure of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Second Round Table Conference, the Civil Disobedience Movement was resumed from 1932. But it did not evoke a similar response from the people as the earlier phase had done. It was becoming clear that the renewed mass movement would not continue for long. Hence, there emerged voices within the Congress advocating a return to constitutional methods. In some quarters the revival of the Swarajist Party was also discussed.
Asaf Ali and S. Satyamurti had raised this issue with Gandhi even during the period of the mass movement. Another prominent Congressman, Dr. M.A. Ansari, was in favour of council entry. In 1933 Satyamurti formed the Madras Swaraj Party. K.M. Munshi, B.C. Roy and Ramaswamy Iyengar also sought Gandhi’s support for the revival of the Swaraj Party. Although, at this moment, Gandhi did not favour the idea of constitutional methods, he told them: ‘If you believe in the move (return to the constitutional methods) you are free to sponsor it.’
Some Congressmen favoured council entry while a few others like Acharya Narendra Dev and Purshottamdas Tandon opposed it. This reflects the difference of opinion within the Congress, with each side eager to influence and tilt the Congress policy but not without Gandhi’s consent. As soon as the Civil Disobedience Movement was withdrawn, Gandhi gave a free hand to each side by saying: ‘I want all sections to work in all directions towards one thing in their own ways without criticizing one another.’
The section which supported council entry at this time was not exactly following the arguments given by the Swarajists to wreck the constitution from within. Now leaders like Rajagopalachari were advocating council entry, which was different from the Swarajists in two ways:
i) It was not meant to wreck the constitution or put obstacles in its smooth functioning, but aimed at making the Constitution workable; and
ii) In the event of obtaining majority, office was to be accepted and ministries were to be formed.
On the other hand, there were Congressmen with Socialist leanings who opposed council entry and were not in favour of making the Constitution workable. The Socialists had organised themselves by forming the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) within the Congress. However, the differences in opinions, though governed by ideological leanings, were considered internal matters within the Congress.
As far as the Congress position vis-à-vis British imperialism was concerned, it was always stated in one voice. For example, the objectionable clauses of the Government of India Act, 1935 were condemned by the Congress with full support from all of its sections. The issue before the Congress was to decide whether to contest the forthcoming elections and accept office or not.
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