Bangladesh, The New Legislative Assembly (1935)

The Govt. had decided to summon a new Legislative Assembly under the provisions of India Act 1935. The elections of the legislative Assembly took place in 1937.The follower of Malaviya and Aney stood from the Congress Nationalist party as distinguished from the mere Congress Party.They secured all the general seats in Bengal. The Congress got only one seat in Punjab, but swept the polls in other provinces.

Madan Mohan Malaviya

M.S.Aney

The strength of the different parties, as they emerged from the polls was as follows :

1. Congress...............................................44

2.Congress Nationalist............................11

3. Europeans............................................11

4. Nominated Officials..........................26

5. Nominated non-officials.................13

6. Independents.................................22

It would thus be seen while the govt.could normally command no more than 50 votes (3,4,5), the Congress had a majority of five over them. The independents (6), all but three of whom were Muslims, led by M.A.Jinnah,thus held the balance. The liberal party was eleminated.

The Govt. suffered several defits and the Budget was thrown away twice.

The Congress had absolute majority in the legislature of Madras, UP,CP, Bihar and Orissa. It was the biggest single party in 4 provinces, namely, Bombay, Bengal, Assam and the NWFP.the total number of Muslim seats in all the assemblies were 482. Out of this number Congress contested 58 seats and won 26i.e. 46 % of the seats contested. The total number of Labour seats in the 11 provinces was 38. Congress contested 20, won 18,i.e. 90 %, The number of seats of the landowners in the 11 provinces was 37, Congress contested 8, won 4, i.e. 50 % , the number of commerce and industries was 56, Congress contested8, won 3.

The result of the Muslims constituencies, the being 228, only 26 won by Muslim League.