Congress Politics before World War II

The period between 1935 and 1939 marked a crucial phase in Indian political history. Following the passage of the Government of India Act 1935, the Indian National Congress shifted from civil disobedience to constitutional politics. The party debated participation in elections, formed governments in key provinces, tackled socio-economic reforms, and navigated internal ideological conflicts between the Left and Right wings. These developments shaped the nation’s political trajectory immediately preceding the outbreak of World War II in September 1939.

Government of India Act 1935 and Election Debate

The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial autonomy and proposed an All-India Federation. Congress rejected the federal structure because it retained British control over foreign affairs and defence while granting disproportionate power to princely states.

Debate Over Council Entry

• Radical leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose opposed accepting office under the Act, arguing it would dilute the anti-imperialist struggle.
• Right-wing leaders like Rajendra Prasad, Vallabhbhai Patel, and C. Rajagopalachari favored office acceptance to prevent anti-Congress elements from capturing power.
• At the Lucknow session (1936) and Faizpur session (1936), Congress decided to contest elections to reject the 1935 Act from within the legislatures.
• The Faizpur session was the first Congress session held in a rural area.

The 1937 Provincial Elections

In February 1937, elections took place across 11 provinces: Madras, Central Provinces, Bihar, Orissa, United Provinces, Bombay, Assam, North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Bengal, Punjab, and Sindh.

• Congress won absolute majorities in five provinces: Madras, Bihar, Central Provinces, United Provinces, and Orissa.
• It emerged as the single largest party in Bombay, Assam, and NWFP.
• Out of 1,585 total provincial assembly seats, Congress contested 1,161 and won 716.
• Non-Congress ministries took power in Bengal (Krishak Praja Party and Muslim League coalition), Punjab (Unionist Party), and Sindh.

Administrative and Socio-Economic Reforms (1937–1939)

Congress ministries functioned for 28 months from July 1937 to October 1939. They focused on civil liberties, agrarian relief, and social reforms.

Key Measures Implemented

• Civil Liberties: Political prisoners were released, bans on progressive organizations were lifted, and emergency powers of the police were curbed.
• Agrarian Legislation: Tenancy acts passed in Bihar, UP, and Bombay limited rent increases, protected peasant occupancy rights, and reduced debt burdens.
• Labor and Industry: The Bombay Industrial Disputes Act of 1938 favored arbitration to avoid strikes, though it faced criticism from left-wing union leaders.
• Social Policies: Primary education expanded under the Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (Nai Talim). Prohibition of alcohol was introduced in selected districts.

Internal Ideological Conflict: The Tripuri Crisis (1939)

Ideological friction between the left wing led by Subhas Chandra Bose and the right wing backed by Mahatma Gandhi came to a head in 1939.

• At the Haripura session (1938), Subhas Chandra Bose was elected President unanimously and set up the National Planning Committee under Jawaharlal Nehru.
• In the 1939 presidential election, Bose defeated Gandhi’s preferred candidate, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, by 1,580 to 1,377 votes.
• Gandhi called Sitaramayya’s defeat his own personal defeat.
• Pant Resolution at the Tripuri session demanded that the President nominate the Working Committee in accordance with Gandhi’s wishes.
• Bose resigned in April 1939 due to deadlocks with the Working Committee and formed the Forward Bloc within Congress.
• Rajendra Prasad replaced Bose as Congress President for the remainder of the term.

Resignation of Ministries and War Crisis

When World War II broke out on September 3, 1939, Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared India a belligerent state without consulting Indian public opinion or elected provincial representatives.

• Congress demanded the immediate establishment of a central national government and a promise of full independence after the war as conditions for supporting the British war effort.
• Linlithgow rejected these demands in his statement on October 17, 1939, offering only consultative committees and constitutional revisions after the war.
• In protest, Congress ministries resigned across all provinces between October 28 and November 8, 1939.
• The Muslim League, led by M. A. Jinnah, celebrated the resignation of Congress ministries as the “Day of Deliverance” on December 22, 1939.

Key High-Yield Facts

• The Faizpur session of 1936 was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru and was the first rural venue for an INC session.
• Congress established the National Planning Committee in 1938 under the chairmanship of Jawaharlal Nehru during Subhas Chandra Bose’s presidency.
• Under the Government of India Act 1935, provincial autonomy came into effect on April 1, 1937.
• Congress formed ministries in eight provinces before resigning in late 1939.
• Subhas Chandra Bose established the Forward Bloc on May 3, 1939, after resigning from the presidency of Congress.
• The Wardha Scheme of Basic Education was formulated by the Zakir Husain Committee in 1937.
• B. R. Ambedkar joined the Muslim League in observing December 22, 1939, as the Day of Deliverance following the resignation of Congress ministries.