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PoliticsNational and Dravidian movements

Justice Party wins first Madras Legislative Council election

· Chennai

The Justice Party won the first election held under the Montagu-Chelmsford dyarchy reforms in the Madras Presidency.

The first elections to the Madras Legislative Council under the Government of India Act 1919 were held in November 1920. The Indian National Congress boycotted the polls as part of the Non-cooperation Movement. The South Indian Liberal Federation, known as the Justice Party, won a large majority of the elected seats. The result brought a non-Brahmin party into government in the Presidency for the first time under the system of dyarchy.

Related events

  1. 1919

    1. 23 Dec 1919ChennaiLegislation

      Government of India Act 1919 introduces dyarchy

      Based on the Montagu-Chelmsford Report, the Act introduced dyarchy in the provinces, including Madras, transferring some subjects to elected ministers.

  2. 1920

    1. 17 Dec 1920 to 11 Jul 1921ChennaiGovernance

      A. Subbarayalu Reddiar becomes first Premier of Madras

      A. Subbarayalu Reddiar of the Justice Party took office as the first Chief Minister (Premier) of the Madras Presidency.

  3. 1921

    1. 1921ChennaiSocial Reform

      Madras grants voting rights to women

      The Madras Legislative Council resolved to extend the franchise to women, among the first provinces in British India to do so.

  4. 1923

    1. 1923ChennaiPolitics

      Justice Party wins second council election

      The Justice Party retained power in the 1923 Madras Legislative Council election despite internal dissent.

  5. 1926

    1. 4 Dec 1926 to 27 Oct 1930ChennaiPolitics

      P. Subbarayan forms independent ministry

      After the Swaraj Party won the 1926 election but declined office, P. Subbarayan formed a ministry of independents with nominated support.

  6. 1930

    1. 27 Oct 1930 to 4 Nov 1932ChennaiPolitics

      Justice Party returns to power under B. Munuswamy Naidu

      The Justice Party won the 1930 election, boycotted by the Congress, and B. Munuswamy Naidu became Premier.

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