Prime Minister of Assam

Prime Minister of Assam in the British Indian Empire
Style The Honorable
Appointer Governor of Assam
Formation April 1937
First holder Muhammad Saadulla
Final holder Gopinath Bordoloi
Abolished August 1947

The Prime Minister of Assam[1] was the head of government and the Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly of Assam Province in British India. The position was dissolved upon the Partition of India in 1947.

History

The office was created under the Government of India Act 1935. During the Indian provincial elections, 1937 in Assam, the Indian National Congress emerged as the single largest party. But due to its pan-Indian policy of boycotting constitutional government under the British Raj, it refused to form government and became the main opposition party. Hence, the governor invited the Assam Provincial Muslim League, led by Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla, to form the government in April 1937. The first Saadulla ministry collapsed in September 1938. The Assamese Congress, led by Gopinath Bordoloi, claimed the right to form government and was invited by the governor to do so on 21 September.[2] The Bordoloi ministry saw the beginning of World War II. After a request from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Bordoloi ministry resigned in 1940. Across India, Congress leaders including Bordoloi were arrested in 1940 due to the Congress's strong opposition to war efforts. The Congress was briefly outlawed during the Quit India movement. Saadulla was invited to form two ministries in 17 November 1939 and 24 August 1942, with intervening periods of Governor's rule in between. Saadulla served as Prime Minister for a total of 9 years. Bordoloi was released in 1944. During the Indian provincial elections, 1946, the Congress led by Bordoloi received a majority and formed government once again. On 6 July 1947, the Sylhet referendum voted for the partition of Muslim-majority Sylhet district from Assam; and merger with East Bengal. Bordoloi later became the first Chief Minister of Assam after Indian independence in 1947.

Office holders

NoNameImageTerm(s)[3]PartyGovernorViceroy
1Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla1 April 1937 - 10 September 1938Assam Provincial Muslim LeagueRobert Neil ReidThe Marquess of Linlithgow
2Gopinath Bordoloi21 September - 17 November 1939Assam Provincial CongressRobert Neil ReidThe Marquess of Linlithgow
3Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla17 November 1939 - 25 December 1941
24 August 1942 - 11 February 1946		Assam Provincial Muslim LeagueRobert Neil Reid
Andrew Gourlay Clow		The Marquess of Linlithgow
The Viscount Wavell
4Gopinath Bordoloi11 February 1946 - 15 August 1947Assam Provincial CongressAndrew Gourlay Clow
Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari		The Viscount Wavell
Earl Mountbatten

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=sep2113/at09
  2. ↑ Kuri Shatikar Kurijan Bishista Asamiya, Editors-Sharma, Dr. Pranati and Sharma, Anil. Journal Emporium, 1999
  3. ↑ http://www.assamassembly.gov.in/cm-list.html
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