The first Huq ministry, also known as the Huq–Nazimuddin ministry, was the first cabinet formed in the Bengal Province, British India. It was formed in 1937 under the leadership of provincial prime minister A. K. Fazlul Huq, leader of the Krishak Praja Party (KPP), and remained in office until 1941, when it was succeeded by the Second Huq ministry.
Background In the 1937 provincial election, no party succeeded in obtaining a majority in Bengal. On the eve of the opening session of the Bengal Legislative Assembly, the Indian National Congress (INC) decided that if it failed to secure a majority in the assembly, it would not participate in the formation of a provincial ministry and would refrain from supporting any party in the assembly. On the other hand, although the INC initially promised to support the Krishak Praja Party (KPP) in forming a ministry in exchange for the implementation of some programme, this understanding later broke down. As a result, KPP leader A. K. Fazlul Huq was compelled to form a coalition ministry with the Bengal Provincial Muslim League (BPML), the KPP's rival.
Fate Due to ideological differences between the BPML and the KPP, as well as the rise of communal politics, a rift gradually developed between Huq and the BPML. At the request of the British authorities, he joined the National Defence Council, which led to a conflict with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, president of the All-India Muslim League (AIML). As a result, Huq was expelled from the AIML's central working committee, and on 1 December 1941, the BPML members resigned from his cabinet. Subsequently, Huq formed another ministry.
Members The cabinet consisted of the following ministers:
Former members The following is a list of former members of the cabinet:
References