Interim Government 1946-1947
(September 2, 1946 – August 15, 1947)
The Context – The Cabinet Mission’s Idea
After World War II, Britain was determined to transfer power to Indian hands — but how to do it peacefully remained the big question.
The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) had proposed two things:
- The formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a Constitution for a united India.
- The creation of an Interim Government — a temporary, all-Indian executive body that would function until full independence.
Both the Congress and the Muslim League disagreed with certain parts of this plan — but the Congress eventually agreed to participate in the Constituent Assembly, while the League refused.
British Dilemma – Whom to Form Government With?
Now the British government faced a tricky situation:
Should they form the Interim Government only with Congress, or should they wait until the Muslim League agreed?
Ultimately, since the League remained adamant on the demand for Pakistan, the British decided to go ahead with Congress alone.
Formation of the Interim Government – 2 September 1946
On 2 September 1946, the Interim Government was officially formed.
It functioned as a proto-cabinet — a shadow of independent governance, under British supervision.
- Jawaharlal Nehru became the Vice-President of the Executive Council, effectively making him the de facto head (since the Viceroy was still the formal President).
- Other members from the Congress held key portfolios — Patel, Rajendra Prasad, Rajagopalachari, Baldev Singh, Jagjivan Ram, etc.
At this stage, the Muslim League stayed out, intensifying its campaign for Pakistan. The League called for Direct Action — which tragically unleashed widespread communal riots, most infamously the Direct Action Day violence in Calcutta (August 1946).
Wavell’s Effort to Bring the League In
Viceroy Lord Wavell, witnessing the growing communal chaos, felt that excluding the League was worsening matters.
His reasoning was simple: If the League shares administrative responsibility, they might moderate their stance.
So, after some negotiations, on 26 October 1946, the Muslim League joined the Interim Government.
However, this entry came without any genuine cooperation.
The League:
- Did not join the Constituent Assembly,
- Did not abandon the Direct Action policy,
- And did not give up its demand for Pakistan.
Essentially, they were in government but not part of the nation-building process.
New Phase of Conflict – Government from Within
Once inside the Interim Government, the League adopted a policy of non-cooperation — a sort of obstruction from within.
Their intention was not to make the government work smoothly, but to demonstrate that coexistence with Congress was impossible.
Thus, instead of harmony, administrative paralysis followed — especially between Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan, who handled Finance and often used financial powers to block Congress initiatives.
This phase made it evident that a united government was unworkable, and hence, a united India was in jeopardy
Threat of Breakdown – The Constituent Assembly Boycott
Meanwhile, the Constituent Assembly held its first session on 9 December 1946 in New Delhi.
- Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha presided as the temporary chairman.
- Out of 389 seats, 207 members were present — the League boycotted it completely.
Soon after, the League demanded that the Assembly be dissolved, arguing it was unrepresentative of Muslims.
Frustrated by the League’s disruptive tactics, Congress members in the Interim Government even urged Wavell (on 5 February 1947) to ask the League members to resign.
But the League continued till 19 July 1947 — only weeks before Partition — thus dragging the deadlock till the very end.
The Structure of the Interim Government
Think of the Interim Government as the final rehearsal for independent governance.
| Members | Portfolio |
|---|---|
| President of Executive Council | Lord Wavell (till Feb 1947) → Lord Mountbatten (from Feb 1947) |
| Commander-in-Chief | Sir Claude Auchinleck |
| INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS | |
| Jawaharlal Nehru | Vice-President; External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations |
| Vallabhbhai Patel | Home Affairs, Information & Broadcasting |
| Rajendra Prasad | Agriculture & Food |
| C. Rajagopalachari | Education & Arts |
| Baldev Singh | Defence |
| Dr. John Mathai | Industries & Supplies |
| Jagjivan Ram | Labour |
| Asaf Ali | Railways & Communications |
| C. H. Bhabha | Works, Mines & Power |
| ALL INDIA MUSLIM LEAGUE | |
| Liaquat Ali Khan (League) | Finance |
| I. I. Chundrigar | Commerce |
| Ghazanfar Ali Khan | Health |
| Jogendra Nath Mandal | Law |
| Abdur Nishtar | Posts & Air |
The Larger Significance
This experiment — from September 1946 to August 1947 — was India’s transitional phase from colonial rule to self-rule.
It exposed the deep Hindu–Muslim political divide, the limitations of the British mediation, and the inevitability of Partition.
It also allowed the Congress leadership to gain administrative experience, which proved crucial when India attained independence on 15 August 1947.
In Essence
The Interim Government was India’s half-step to freedom — a rehearsal marked by political rivalry, communal tension, and administrative learning.
It showed that while independence was imminent, unity was no longer possible.