●  The Congress ministries resigned in October and November 1939, in protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow’s action of declaring India to be a belligerent in the Second World War without consulting the Indian people.

●  Congress was the dominant party and had formed the government in eight of the eleven provinces. The Congress working committee passed a resolution and demanded and immediate transfer of power in return for the cooperation of the war efforts.

●   Lord Linlithogow did not respond satisfactorily to this. Therefore Congress, asked the Congress ministries to resign.

●  The British Government felt relieved by the resignation of the Congress Ministers because they controlled eight out of the eleven provinces and had the power to impair the war efforts of the Government.

●  This was a major setback in the Indian political scenario.