1945-46 Elections

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

• 1945; Churchill was defeated in elections and Attlee and Labor party took over
• They were committed to self governance in India
• Wavell was asked to organize elections to both provincial and central assemblies then set up an Ex. Council, with support from main Indian parties
• Election were to show India’s divide
• Congress claimed mass representation
• League appealed to Muslims with homeland policy
• Results in December 1945

Question 2

Results

Answer 2

• League won 87% Muslim vote
• All 30 Muslim seats in Cent. Legislative Assembly
• 446/495 Muslim seats in provincial elections
• Took control Bengal and Sindh
• Became Largest Party In Punjab

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• Congress won 91% of Non-Muslim vote
• Took control of other 8 states
• Congress victory in NWFP was blow to League as they took 19 Muslim seats to the league’s 17

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• Showed that Muslims supported the league
• Rest were with Congress

Question 3

How were these elections different for League

Answer 3

• Since 1937 Muslims had prevailed getting their massage across
• They become Indian Political force
• Learned lessons and campaigned effectively, letting people know what they stood for
• Period of Congress Rule made Muslims realize, that if they did not stand up for own rights, they would suffer at congress hands
• Subcontinent was different in 1945 vs 1937;
• Pakistan Res. had passed
• Jinnah fought to present league as equal political force to congress
• Communal divide was greater as seen in results