#Integration_after_Independence_and_Role_of_Gandhi :: In the 1946 election for the Congress presidency, Patel stepped down in favour of Nehru at the request of Gandhi. The elections importance stemmed from the fact that the elected President would lead free Indias first Government. Gandhi asked all 16 states representatives and Congress to elect the right person and Sardar Patels name was proposed by 13 states representatives out of 16, but Patel respected Gandhis request to not be the first prime minister. As the first Home Minister, Patel played a key role in integration of many princely states into the Indian federation. In the elections, the Congress won a large majority of the elected seats, dominating the Hindu electorate. But the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah won a large majority of Muslim electorate seats. The League had resolved in 1940 to demand Pakistan—an independent state for Muslims—and was a fierce critic of the Congress. The Congress formed governments in all provinces save Sindh, Punjab and Bengal, where it entered into coalitions with other parties.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 05:02:21 +0000