Provincial elections of 1937
Topic: The National Movement: Gandhian Era · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement"; Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"
Meaning
These were elections to the provincial assemblies, held under the Government of India Act 1935. Only a small share of adults had the right to vote (a "restricted franchise"). The Congress won comprehensively and formed ministries (provincial governments) in 8 of the 11 provinces. These ministries still worked under British governors, who kept important powers.
Example
After the 1937 elections the Congress ran governments in provinces such as Bombay, Madras and the United Provinces. The Muslim League did poorly, even in seats reserved for Muslims. This pushed the League to work harder to win Muslim support.
Don't confuse with
- Elections of early 1946: In these elections the Congress swept the General seats and the League won the Muslim seats. This showed that the two communities had become sharply divided ("polarised").
Related concepts
- Congress ministries 1937-39
- Wardha scheme of basic education
- Congress Socialist Party
- Haripura session 1938
- Tripuri crisis 1939
- Forward Bloc
- Second World War
- Lord Linlithgow
- Resignation of Congress ministries
- Day of Deliverance 1939