The second legislative council election for the Madras Presidency after the establishment of a bicameral legislature by the Government of India Act of 1935 was held in March 1946.

The years after this election saw factionalism in Madras Congress party with divisions across regional (mainly Tamil and Andhra) and communal (Brahman and non-Brahman) lines.

In turn, Reddiar himself was ousted to make way for P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja (Tamil non-Brahman) with the support of Kamaraj.

The Congress government which had come to power in Madras Presidency in 1937 after winning the 1937 elections resigned in October 1939, protesting India's involvement in the Second World War.

[1][4][5] The years before the 1946 election saw a bitter struggle between C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) and K. Kamaraj for the leadership of Madras provincial Congress.

His return was much appreciated by Congress high command as they felt the Presidency needed his service greatly.

Rajaji's claim to leadership found strong support in a Provincial Congress Committee meeting held in Tirupparankundram on 31 October 1945.

The Congress high command sent Asaf Ali to Madras in an effort to mediate between the pro- and anti-Rajaji factions.

Kamaraj and Mudaliar wrote to the Congress high command protesting its interference in local politics and its preference of Rajaji.

Patel, who had worked hard to strengthen Rajaji's image, was enraged by his abrupt withdrawal and said, How could anybody support you, if you act like this?

The breakdown of seats in the council was as follows:[9][10][11] The Act provided for a limited adult franchise based on property qualifications.