Muslim Independent Party
The Muslim Independent Party was founded in India in 1936.
This party was floated by the influence of Maulana Sajjad - that time Amir of Imarat-e-Sharia, Bihar. The need of such party was felt by Muslims of Bihar when they got disillusoned from Congress and Muslim League. As congress was not giving a clear policy statement for the country's second largest majority and Muslim League was giving the slogan of separate nation which was dividing the country so Muslims of Bihar decided to float their own Party.
Barrister Mohammad Yunus and Syed Abdul Aziz were two most influential leaders of Bihari Muslims at that time. Barrister Mohammad Yunus formed Muslim Independent Party showing their Non - Alliance to either congress or Muslim League by using word "Independent" and Syed Abdul Aziz formed Muslim United Party. In 1937 election party emerged as the largest Muslim political party in Bihar and second largest party in Bihar after Congress.
The Muslim Independent Party formed the government in Bihar in 1937. Mohammad Yunus, the President of the party, became the chief minister. It is a lesser known fact that Mohammad Yunus became first chief minister of Bihar on 1 April 1937. On 13 May 2012 that is on 60th death anniversary of Mohammad Yunus when addressing a conference "Mohammad Yunus - Hayat wa Khidmaat" organised by Mohammad Kashif yunus, the great grandson of Mohammad Yunus and also Chairman of Barrister Yunus Foundation, Nitish Kumar announced that Bihar Government will arrange "Rajkiya Samaroh" from next year on the occasion of Birthday of Mohammad Yunus which is on 4 May. On 4 May 2013 it was the first time that Bihar government observed birth anniversary of Mohammad Yunus as "Rajkiye Samaroh" in Sri Krishna Memorial Hall attended by Sri Nand Kishore Yadav and Mohammad Kashif Yunus and others.
Out of 40 seats reserved for Muslims, Muslim Independent Party won 20. Muslim United Party of Syed Abdul Aziz won 7 Muslim seats. Ahrar party also tried but failed to secure any seat. 4 Muslims won on congress ticket. 8 Independent uslim candidate also won. Some prominent names who won on Muslim Independent party ticket are Barrister Mohammad Yunus from Patna West (Rural), Maulana Minatullah Rahmani from Bhagalpur/Munger.
Begum Imam won from Patna (women seat) independent in this election. Two more important Muslim names who won elections in 1937 were Prof. Abdul Bari from Champaran on congress ticket and Syed Abdul Aziz of United Party.
hen youth leader Jayaprakash Narayan (as a staunch socialist) harshly criticised Barrister's Yunus acceptance to the governor's invitation for formation of the government. His party (Congress Socialist Party) continued protests to the Muslim Independent Party government.
As Muslim Independent Party was the party which got 20 seats from 40 seats reserved for Muslim and congress got only 4 Muslim seats, Muslim independent Party wanted to form an Alliance govt. with congress so that a better answer could be given to Muslim League that Hindu and Muslims, these two biggest religious majorities could exist with equal dignity and rights but congress refused to barrister Yunus's brilliant proposal and did it best that formed the government alone. Congress which was having just 4 Muslim Members assembly out of 40 didn't showed any respect of Muslim mandate which was given to Muslim independent party in Bihar. Same situation aroses in West Bengal. Which ultimately just after 10 years resulted in partition of India.
All these records are given in the diary of Barrister Yasin Yunus who was elder son and Political secretary of his father Barrister Mohammad Yunus. The diary was later with Mohammad Yaqub Yunus, younger son of Barrister Yunus and Founder president of Bihar Muslim Majlise-e-Mushawarat Which is now with Baber Yunus (Director, Yunus Construction Pvt. Ltd. and son of Late Yaqub Yunus). After his government fell, the first Congress Ministry (led by Premier Sri Krishna Singh and Dr. A.N. Sinha as deputy premier) came to existence. Although the party lost the power soon and congress formed the govt. in state. (REF: 2 December 1937 Indian Nation Daily)
It is one of the aspiring fact of those days that the Pioneer of the Party Maulana Abul Mohasin Sajjad (RH) used to attend all the meetings of the party which were mostly held in Fraser Road (now Maulana Mazhar-ul-Haq Road) or Bankipur. Sometimes it was late nights when these meetings used to finish. As from Patna to Phulwari, Tam Tam/ Tanga was the only transportation available but sometimes even the Tanga was not available in late night. Maulana Sajjad (RA) along with Maulana Minatullah Rahmani (RA) used to go back on foot, walking all along from Patna Railway station to Phulwari (around 7-8 Kilometer). Maulana Sajjad used to avoid using car of rich leaders of Party like Mohammad Yunus.