A. Subbarayalu Reddiar

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A Subbarayalu Reddiar was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from December 17, 1920 to July 11, 1921.^[1] He belonged to Justice party. He took over as President, Cuddalore taluk Board in 1912. In 1917 he became the chair of South Arcot District Board. He comes from a landowning family and is a western educated lawyer. He later became the first Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, present-day state of Tamil Nadu^[2]^[3].

[edit] Chief Minister of Madras

At the end of November 1920, the first general elections were held to the Madras Legislative Assembly as per the Montford Reforms^[4]. The Indian National Congress, a part of its policy during the Non-Cooperation Movement boycotted the elections. As a result, the Justice Party swept to power winning 63 of the 98 Assembly seats to which elections were conducted. Among the nominated members, it had a strength of 18 adding up to a total of 81 members in a chamber of 127.

Following the success of the Justice Party in the 1920 elections, Lord Willingdon invited Sir Theagaroya Chetty to form the Government. However, he passed on the mantle to Subbarayalu Reddiar. Subbarayalu Reddiar assumed office as Chief Minister on December 17, 1920 and held the portfolios of education, public works, excise and registration in the new government. On February 14, 1921, three new Concil Secretaries were appointed by the Justice party Government. However, Subbarayalu Reddiar resigned soon afterwards on grounds of health.

[edit] References

^ List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu
^ David Washbrook, Country Politics: Madras 1880 to 1930, Modern Asian studies, 7, 3 (1973) pp.(475-531), Great Britain
^ Rulers.org - Provinces of British India
^ Ralhan, O. P. (1996). Encyclopaedia of Political Parties. Anmol Publications Pvt Ltd., 180-183. ISBN:8174888659.