Second United Front Cabinet

The Second United Front Cabinet was the coalition government that ruled the Indian state of West Bengal for 13 months, 1969–1970. The Second United Front Cabinet was formed after the 1967 First United Front Cabinet had been dismissed in 1967, President's Rule introduced and a mid-term election held in 1969. The United Front got a renewed popular mandate in the 1969 election, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) calling the shots but with a non-leftist Chief Minister. The 13-month reign of the Second United Front Cabinet was marked by the struggle for comprehensive land reform, labour disputes, political violence and coalition infighting.

The first United Front cabinet had been dismissed by the West Bengal Governor on 21 November 1967.President's Rule had been introduced in the state on 20 February 1968.

A 12-party United Front coalition contested the 1969 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, with a 32-point common programme. The election outcome was a landslide victory for the United Front; winning 214 seats and 49.7% of the votes.

Second United Front cabinet took office in February 1969. The second United Front cabinet had 27 cabinet ministers and 3 ministers of state. By comparison, the 1967 first United Front cabinet had 19 ministers.

CPI(M) was the largest party of the United Front in the Legislative Assembly, but as per a pre-election agreement the post of Chief Minister went to Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee of the Bangla Congress. Nevertheless, CPI(M) obtained all key portfolios in the government. SUCI resented the fact that it had not been given the Labour portfolio. The Food and Supplies department had been allocated to the CPI(M), but CPI(M) allowed Sudhindranath Kumar of the Revolutionary Communist Party of India to occupy this ministry.

On 9 May 1969 Sudhir Chandra Das, dissident leader of the Praja Socialist Party, was sworn in as Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Minister, raising the number of ministers to 31.

...
Wikipedia