On 2 September 1946, the Congress formed the Interim Government and Nehru was sworn in as Member in charge of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations. He was also to serve as Vice-President of the Executive Council. With the assumption of office, a new phase in Nehru's life began; and the Second Series of the Selected Works concerns his activities from September 1946 to May 1964. This first volume covers the months from September 1946 to January 1947, which formed a period of intricate constitutional debate, intensified political activity, and mounting communal tension.