Bombay Legislative Assembly came into existence in 1937, as the legislature of

Bombay Presidency The Bombay Presidency or Bombay Province, also called Bombay and Sind (1843–1936), was an administrative subdivision (province) of British India, with its capital in the city that came up over the seven islands of Bombay. The first mainl ...

, a province of

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

. It functioned until 1960, when separate states of Maharashtra and

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...

were formed.

History

The first session of this assembly was held on 19 July 1937 in Pune's Council Hall. The first session of the upper house, the legislative council was held a day later on 20 July 1937.The Bombay Legislative Assembly Manual printed by Bombay (Presidency). Legislative assembly - 1937

was a province, which in 1937, included

Bombay State Bombay State was a large Indian state created at the time of India's Independence, with other regions being added to it in the succeeding years. Bombay Presidency (roughly equating to the present-day Indian state of Maharashtra, excluding S ...

, Rewa Kantha Agency,

Mahi Kantha Agency Mahi Kantha was a political agency or collection of princely states in British India, within the Gujarat Division of Bombay Presidency. In 1933, the states of the Mahi Kantha Agency, except for Danta, were included in the Western India States ...

, Western India States Agency,

Sindh province Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...

and Aden. Aden was detached in 1937 to be made a separate

Colony of Aden Aden Colony ( ar, مستعمرة عدن, ), also the Colony of Aden, was a British Crown colony from 1937 to 1963 located in the south of contemporary Yemen. It consisted of the port of Aden and its immediate surroundings (an area of ). Pr ...

in order to be kept out of jurisdiction of Bombay Presidency. Elections were held in 1937 in Bombay State for the legislative assembly. Further,

Sindh Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...

was made a separate province, detached from the Bombay Presidency in 1936 and

Legislative Assembly of Sind A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known ...

was made a separate assembly for Sind Province of British India. After the

Government of India Act 1935 The Government of India Act, 1935 was an Act adapted from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It originally received royal assent in August 1935. It was the longest Act of (British) Parliament ever enacted until the Greater London Authority ...

was passed which envisaged a federal type of government; elections were held in 1937 to form provincial governments. The Assembly at that time had a total strength of 175 members.Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, 50 Years (1937-87): Its Genesis, Growth, and Work by S. H. Belavadi Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat, 1988

Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher (24 August 1888 – 8 March 1957) was an Indian politician who served as the prime minister of Bombay (1937 - 1939, 1946 - 1947) and the first chief minister (then called Premier) of Bombay State (1947 - 1952). He was aw ...

became the Premier of the Bombay Presidency. But later in 1939, as part of the freedom movement, all Congress ministries in British Indian provinces resigned and Bombay was placed under Governor's rule. In 1946 that elections were once again held. This time too, Congress won and formed the government under Balasaheb Kher, who continued as Chief Minister even after India's independence until 1952. Party wise break up of seats in the Bombay Legislative Assembly: From 1937 to 1942,

B. R. Ambedkar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956) was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer and political leader who headed the committee drafting the Constitution of India from the Constituent Assembly debates, served a ...

served as the

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

in the Bombay Legislative Assembly.

Seats held by different political parties in 1937

Total Number of Seats : 175

After independence

After Indian independence in 1947, the Bombay Legislative Assembly elected in 1946 continued to work as a part of India's

, until in the 1951 elections. Later elections to Bombay Legislative Assembly were held in

1957 1957 (Roman numerals, MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday, common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1957th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 957th year of the 2nd millennium, t ...

. Bombay Legislative Assembly ceased to exist when in 1960, when the States of Maharashtra and

came into existence and Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra and Legislative Assembly of Gujarat were formed and Bombay Legislative Assembly was dissolved.

References

{{Reflist State lower houses in India 1937 establishments in British India 1960 disestablishments in India Legislatures of British India Historical state legislatures in India Bombay Presidency Defunct lower houses Bombay State

History

Seats held by different political parties in 1937

After independence

See also

References