SECTION-1: Interregnum between Bengal Ministership and Central Ministership

Syama Prasad's resignation made the fall of the Haq Ministry inevitable. When the Budget for the year 1943 was introduced by Fazlul Haq, who had taken over the Finance portfolio following Syama Prasad's resignation, it was apparent that the ministry would face quite a few challenges during the budget session. The strength of the Opposition was increasing daily. The League and the Europeans had combined, and a number of Muslims and Scheduled Caste members joined the Opposition after deserting the ministerial party. The official Congress party continued to attack the Ministry and made it clear that its continuance depended on its charity. The Communist party was carrying on a persistent propaganda against the Ministry and it joined hands with the League for this purpose. Governor Herbert urged Haq to bring in the Muslim League. A coalition with the League was acceptable to the truncated Ministry as well as to Syama Prasad who had always been prepared “to have a ministry representing all parties”. But the League “Maintained that while it was prepared to cooperate with any Non-Muslim party, it would never join any ministry along with the non-Muslim League Muslims”. This was in accordance with Jinnah's contention that the Muslim League was the sole representative organisation of the Muslims of India and the non-League Muslims were untouchables. Just before the Budget proceedings were about to be concluded, Haq was summered by the Governor on the evening of 28 March. According to Haq, the Governor had made two demands of him. First, he must completely repudiate Dr Mookerjee's statement and speeches attacking the Governor which Haq refused to do. Secondly, he insisted that either Haq should form a ministry with the League or enable the Governor to do so by tendering his resignation. A letter of resignation had been previously typed and kept ready at Government House. Haq signed it under coercion and the Governor instantly accepted his resignation, although according to Dr Mookerjee, Fazlul had no business to resign then and there. His party men were furious and signs of disintegration were all too clear. A constitutional deadlock resulted when on the next day Speaker Nausher Ali, on Dr Mookerjee's suggestion, adjourned the House for three weeks before the Budget had been passed completely.