Answer: Liaqat Ali
Notes: Pt. Nehru was invited by Viceroy Wavell on 12 August 1946 to form an Interim Government. It was formed on 2 September 1946. It comprised 7 Congressmen (Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajaji, Rajendra Prasad, Sarat Chandra Bose, Jagjivan Ram and Asaf Ali), 2 non-Congress Muslims (Shafaat Ahmad Khan and Ali Zaheer), and 3 from other minorities (Baldev Singh, John Mathai and CH Bhabha). Nehru kept the External Affairs ministry, while Sardar headed Home and Information & Broadcasting. The Viceroy also invited the Muslim League to join the Interim Government at the Centre. The Muslim League, keen to get into power, joined the Interim Government on 15 October 1946. Upon League’s entry Sarat Chandra Bose, Shafaat Ahmad Khan and Ali Zaheer left the ministry; and five Muslim League members became ministers, which included Liaqat Ali as Finance Minister.
