Elections of 1945-46
The 1945-46 elections were, by far, the most critical at all levels in the annals of the
history of Indian sub-continent. The first Simla Conference had broken down on 14th
July 1945 on the controversial issue of the representative culture of the All India Muslim
League (AIML). Also, once World War II was over the new government in Britain took
control. The new government gave some new instructions to the Viceroy of India. So, on
21st August 1945 the Viceroy Lord Wavell announced that elections to the central and
provincial legislatures would be held in the coming winter. As for the first phase it was
decided that election to the central legislative assembly would be held to be followed by
the election to the provincial assemblies.
The Muslim League announced that it would fight the elections on the two clear-cut
issues –
Pakistan is the national demand of the Muslims of India and the Muslim League is their
sole representative organization. Soon after the announcement regarding the general
election the Muslim league started preparation to contest them. The League’s position
in 1945 was entirely different from what it had been at the time of the previous election
held in1937.It was now well established as a mass organization with branches in every
provinces, districts, tehsils and villages. To cope with the finance of the election Quaid-i-
Azam asked the Muslims in his characteristic style “give us the silver bullets and we will
finish the job.”
For Jinnah and the Muslim League election campaign was urgent and also
extraordinarily hectic and brisk. He suffered bouts of serious illness at the time.
However, Quaid-i-Azam did not slacken his pace and in a mere 24 weeks, between
mid-July and end of December 1945 “addressed thousands and had talks with
hundreds,” as he himself stated. During this short period he spoke at more than twenty-
six gatherings across the provinces of Bombay, Sindh, Baluchistan and the Frontier,
gave out thirty-two press statements and interviews, met several delegations and
received and answered a great deal of political correspondence. In this endeavor,
Jinnah was helped by a team of highly committed deputies. He had formed the All India
Muslim League Committee of Action in December 1943 and later the Central
Parliamentary Board whose proceedings are also printed in this volume. These small
bodies of dedicated office-holders selected Muslim League candidates, settled
differences and appeals over the award of League tickets, distributed funds,
coordinated elections work from their Delhi head office and travelled and supervised
election activity all over India. In this they were supported admirably by the All India and
Provincial Muslim Students Federations whose members, especially at Aligarh, set
examples of selflessness, sacrifice and dedication.
Elections for the Central Legislature were held in December 1945. Though the franchise
was limited, the turnover was extra ordinary. Leagues performance was even more
impressive as it managed to win all the 30 seats reserved for the Muslims. The results
of the provincial election held in early 1946 were not different. Congress won most of
the non-Muslim seats while Muslim League captured approximately 95 percent of the
Muslim seats. On the other hand League celebrated January 11, 1946 as the Day of
victory and declared that the election results were enough to prove that Muslim League
under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam was the sole representative of the Muslims of the
region.
All said and done, it was the last variable made Pakistan possible. Indeed, the massive
electoral verdict in Pakistan’s favour during 1945-46 was the most important
development between 1940 and 1947 between the adoption of the Lahore Resolution
and the emergence of Pakistan. By all standards, this verdict represented the most
critical step in the establishment of Pakistan. It was clear to the Congress that the
Muslim League was the authoritative representative of an overwhelming majority of the
Muslims in India, but it neither accepted it openly nor challenged its position.
For both the Congress and the League, the prime issue in the 1945-46 elections was
the creation of Pakistan as opposed to the idea of Akhand Hindustan. Hence, the
elections represented a referendum of sorts, as suggested by Gandhi, to ascertain the
declared and established will of Muslims on the nationhood and separation issues.
Once that will was given in Pakistan’s favour, its emergence (in some form or another)
could no longer be resisted or delayed.
