THE ELECTIONS OF 1945-1946 AND THERE

RESULTS

ASSIGNMENT

BIBI AMNA (26)

SUBJECT PAK STUDY

DEPATRMENT ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

SEMESTER 2nd

SUBMITTED DATE 03/05/2020

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

(UET), MARDAN
 The Elections of 1945-1946 and There Results

1. The 1945-46 elections were, by far, the most critical at all levels in the annals of the history of
Indian subcontinent. 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.

2. 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.”

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.
8. After the failure of simla conference lord wavell announced general and provincial elections
after which constitutional making body was to be set up. Viceroy announced the formation of
executive council with the support of both muslims and hindus parties. But both parties rejected
the proposal. Quaid-i-azam declared that muslims were not ready to accept any settlement less
than a separate homeland for them and the all india congress committee characterized the
proposal as vague, inadequate and unsatisfactory because it had not addressed the issue of
independence. Despite this, both parties launched election campaigns. Because they knew that
the elections were essential for the future of india, as the results were to play an important role
in determining their standing.

9. The league wanted to sweep the muslim constituencies so as to prove that they were the
sole representatives of the muslims of india, while on the other hand congress wanted to
prove that they represent all indians.  Both parties raised different slogans during whole
election campaign. Congress tried to get support of all those parties who were against the
muslim league.
10. Elections for central legislature were held on december 1945 with the limited franchise.
During these elections congress won about 80 percent of the general seats and 91.3
percent general votes and muslim league won all 30 reserved seats for muslims.
Provincial election held on 1946 results was not different. Muslim league won 95 percent
seats for muslims and congress won all seats for non-muslims.