Cooper ministry
Cooper ministry | |
---|---|
![]() Government of Bombay Presidency | |
Date formed | 1 April 1937 |
Date dissolved | 19 July 1937 |
People and organisations | |
Governor | Lord Brabourne |
Prime Minister | Dhanjishah Cooper |
Total no. of members | 4 Cabinet ministers (Incl. Chief Minister) |
Member parties | Independents DSP AIML |
Opposition party | Congress |
History | |
Election | 1937 |
Legislature term | 5 years |
Predecessor | None |
Successor | Kher I |
Following the 1937 Bombay Presidency elections, Indian National Congress emerged as the largest group in the Bombay Legislative Assembly. However, when its leader B. G. Kher refused to form a government, Governor Lord Brabourne instead invited Dhanjishah Cooper, an independent member from Satara, to be the Presidency's prime minister on 1 April 1937. Cooper accepted and thus, became's Bombay's first prime minister.[1] The four-member ministry he formed shortly resigned due to lack of majority support, and was replaced by Kher's ministry in July 1937.[2]
Government formation
[edit]Indian National Congress had secured highest seats in the 1937 elections. However, the party refused to form a government due to disagreements over the Governor's reserve powers as envisioned by the Government of India Act 1935.[3] After Congress' B. G. Kher refused his mandate, the Governor invited the second-largest Muslim League. Citing that the League would be unable to maintain a stable majority, Ali Muhammad Khan Dehlavi refused office as well.[4]
After either party had refused, the Governor invited Cooper to take up premiership. Cooper tried establishing a government of non-Congress parties, including Muslim League and Democratic Swarajya Party.[4] In May 1937, Jamnadas Mehta of Democratic Swaraj Party joined the Cooper ministry on the condition of the unconditional release of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar from detention.[5] Freeing Savarkar from all restrictions was a significant action by the short-lived Cooper ministry.[6]
List of ministers
[edit]Cooper's ministry had four cabinet ministers.[2]
Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prime Minister | 1 April 1937 | 19 July 1937 | Independent | ||
Education | 1 April 1937 | 19 July 1937 | Independent | ||
Finance and Revenue | Jamnadas Mehta | 1 April 1937 | 19 July 1937 | DSP | |
Local Self-government | 1 April 1937 | 19 July 1937 | AIML |
References
[edit]- ^ Nauzer Bharucha (4 October 2014). "'Parsis are not interested in politics anymore'". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ a b Bombay 1937-1938: A Review of the Administration of the Bombay Presidency. Mumbai: Government Central Press, Bombay. 1939. pp. 160–161.
- ^ "Governors Refuse to Give Assurances: C. R. and Kher Decline to Take Up Office - Bombay Leader's Statement". The Indian Express. 27 March 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Bombay Ministry Goes Abegging". The Indian Express. 29 March 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/06arvind.htm [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/bharat-ratna-for-vinayak-savarkar-how-eknath-shindes-pitch-could-open-fault-lines-in-mva-2340320-2023-02-27 [bare URL]