Elections of 1937
The Debate on Strategy after 1935:
- Elections to provincial assemblies were announced in early 1937, and the debate on the future strategy began among nationalists.
- The Congress agreed to oppose the 1935 Act, but the strategy to do so was not clear in a period when a mass movement was not yet possible.
- There were sharp differences among nationalists regarding the decision to form a government if the Congress got a majority in a province.
- The debate was identified with the emerging ideological divide along the left and right lines.
Divided Opinions:
- Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Bose, and Congress socialists and communists opposed office acceptance, arguing that it would negate the rejection of the act by the nationalists.
- The leftists proposed entry into the councils with an aim to create deadlocks and advocated an increased reliance on workers and peasants to impart a socialist direction to the Congress.
- The proponents of office acceptance argued that provincial ministries could be used to promote constructive work despite limited powers.
Gandhi's Position:
- Gandhi initially opposed office acceptance but was willing to give a trial to the formation of Congress ministries.
- In Lucknow and Faizpur sessions in 1936 and 1937, the Congress decided to fight elections and postpone the decision on office acceptance.
Lucknow Congress Session
The Congress session at Lucknow (April 1936) was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru Prominent resolution passed in the session include:
- The people of the state should have the same right of self-determination as those of the rest of India; and that the Congress stands for the same political, civil and democratic liberties for every part of India.
- The Congress resolved to contest elections on a basis of manifesto
Congress Manifesto for Elections:
- The Congress manifesto reaffirmed the rejection of the 1935 Act and promised release of prisoners, removal of disabilities on the basis of gender and caste, and substantial transformation of the agrarian system.
- Other promises included reduction of rent and revenue, scaling down of rural debts, cheap credit, and the right to form trade unions and to strike.
Congress' Performance:
- The Congress won 716 out of 1,161 seats it contested and got a majority in all provinces except in Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Sindh, and the NWFP.
- The Congress emerged as the largest party in Bengal, Assam, and the NWFP, increasing its prestige, and reconciling Nehru to the dominant strategy of office acceptance.
Congress Ministries in Provinces After Election of 1937:
Background:
- British India held provincial elections in 1937.
- The Indian National Congress won in 7 out of 11 provinces and formed ministries.
- Congress ministries were formed in Bombay, Madras, Central Provinces, Orissa, United Provinces, Bihar, and later in the NWFP and Assam also.
- The Congress rule lasted for 28 months until they resigned in 1939.
Evaluation of congress rule during these 28 months-
Civil Liberties:
- Congress ministries eased curbs on civil liberties.
- Laws giving emergency powers were repealed.
- Ban on illegal organizations and certain books and journals were lifted.
- Press restrictions were lifted, and confiscated arms and arms licenses were restored.
- Police powers were curbed and the CID stopped shadowing politicians.
- Political prisoners and revolutionaries were released, and deportation and internment orders were revoked.
- In Bombay, lands confiscated by the government during the Civil Disobedience Movement were restored.
- Pensions of officials associated with the Civil Disobedience Movement were restored.
Agrarian Reforms:
- Tenancy legislation was taken up in all the Congress ruled provinces.
- Efforts were made to protect the peasant from money lenders and to increase irrigation facilities.
- In Bombay, Congress got lands restored to their original owners, which had been sold to new owners during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- However, in most areas, the Zamindars remained in a dominant position.
Labour:
- The Congress ministries aimed to advance workers’ interests while promoting industrial peace.
- Efforts were made to improve workers’ condition and secure wage increases for them.
- The ministries treated militant trade union protests as law and order problems and acted as mediators.
- Nehru was unhappy about the repressive measures but supported the ministries in public.
- Gandhi stood for political education of the masses.
Social Welfare Reforms:
- Prohibition was imposed in certain areas.
- Measures were taken for the welfare of Harijans, including temple entry, use of public facilities, scholarships, an increase in their numbers in government service and police, etc.
- Attention was given to education, public health, and sanitation.
- Encouragement was given to khadi through subsidies and other measures.
- Prison reforms were undertaken.
- Efforts were made to develop planning through National Planning Committee set up under Congress president Subhash Bose in 1938.
Other Activity:
- Mass literacy campaigns were launched.
- Congress police stations and panchayats were set up.
- Congress Grievance Committees presented mass petitions to government.
- States peoples’ movements were initiated.
Problems Faced by Congress at this Time:
- The communal parties carried out malicious propaganda against the Congress, accusing them of discrimination against minorities.
- The All India Muslim League established the Pirpur Committee in 1938, charging Congress with interference in religious rites and suppression of Urdu.
- Opportunists joined Congress during this period, leading to a drive to free the Congress from such elements.
- Bose winning the presidential post of Congress was regarded as a victory of the Left wing, and Gandhi regarded this defeat as his own.
- Problems arose in the formation of the Working Committee, and eventually Bose resigned from the Presidentship.
- Congress Ministries resigned office in November 1939, citing the Viceroy's decision to involve India in the imperialist war without consulting Congress.