Cooper ministry

Last updated
Cooper ministry
British Raj Red Ensign.svg
Government of Bombay Presidency
Date formed1 April 1937
Date dissolved19 July 1937
People and organisations
Governor Lord Brabourne
Prime Minister Dhanjishah Cooper
Total no. of members4 Cabinet ministers (Incl. Chief Minister)
Member parties Independents
DSP
AIML
Opposition party Congress
History
Election(s) 1937
Legislature term(s)5 years
PredecessorNone
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]

Contents

Government formation

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]

List of ministers

Cooper's ministry had four cabinet ministers. [2]

PortfolioMinisterTookofficeLeftofficeParty
Prime Minister 1 April 193719 July 1937  Independent
Education1 April 193719 July 1937  Independent
Finance and Revenue
Jamnadas Mehta
1 April 193719 July 1937  DSP
Local Self-government1 April 193719 July 1937  AIML

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References

  1. Nauzer Bharucha (4 October 2014). "'Parsis are not interested in politics anymore'". The Times of India . Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 Bombay 1937-1938: A Review of the Administration of the Bombay Presidency. Mumbai: Government Central Press, Bombay. 1939. pp. 160–161.
  3. "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.
  4. 1 2 "Bombay Ministry Goes Abegging". The Indian Express . 29 March 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2021.