Muslim League protestors wave black flags at members of the first Cabinet of the Interim Government of India (1946)

Before transitioning into a Dominion, India had an official Interim government formed from the Constituent Assembly.

The Muslim League, who shared power at a central level with the Indian National Congress, opted to sit out of the government in protest as three of the five cabinet posts reserved for Muslims were given to non-Muslim League members. This demand was met in the reconstituted cabinet formed in October.

Year

Source

1946

AP Photo

Source Caption:

Muslim League demonstrators waving black flags registering their ‘silent contempt’ for the new congress-formed interim government wave their banners and shout slogans as members of the new government appear on a balcony of the New Delhi secretariat shortly after taking their oaths of office, on Sept. 9, 1946. (AP Photo)