Movements in
1945
January
Liaquat-Desai Pact
Through the Liaquat-Desai Pact, Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan and Bhulabhai Desai
agreed that the Congress and the League will join in forming an interim
Government at the Centre with the following composition:
-
An equal number of persons nominated by
theCongress and the League in the Central
Executive (the persons nominated need not be members of the Central
Legislature)
-
Representatives of minorities (in particular
the Scheduled Castes and the Sikhs)
- The Commander-in-Chief.
.The Government will function
within the framework of the Government of India Act, 1935. It was agreed
between the Congress and the League that if such an interim Government
is formed, their first step would be to release the Working Committee
members of the Congress. The two leaders also agreed to try to get
the.withdrawal of Section 93 in the provinces and to form coalition
governments.
June 14
Wavell Plan
The Wavell Plan was announced. It
was "'not an attempt to obtain or impose a constitutional settlement" It
proposed that the Viceroy would consult the Indian leaders in the
formation of a new Executive Council. The Viceroy said that. the
proposed new Council would represent the main communities and would
Include equal number of Caste Hindus and Muslims.He also said that the
portfolio of External Afairs so far held by the Viceroy, would also be
placed in the charge of an Indian member of the Council. The formation
of this Interim Government was in no way to prejudice the final
constitutional settlement. The new Executive Council would have the
following three functions:
-
Prosecute the war against Japan
with the utmostenergy till Japan was utterly defeated
-
Carry on the Government of
Britishlndia, with all the manifold tasks of post-war development In
front of it, until a new permanent constitution could be agreed upon
and came
into force and
-
Consider when the members of the
government though it possible the means by which such an agreement
could be achieved.
June 25
Simla Conference
The Viceroy called a conference at
Simla, since known as the First Simla Conference, where the formation of
an Executive Council was discussed. The Congress claimed that it
represented all the communities in India and as such it could nominate
Muslims as the members of the new Council. The All-India Muslim League
did not accept the claim of the Congress and stated that only the
All-India Muslim League had the right to nominate Muslim members in the
Executive Council.The All-India Muslim League was pledged to the
formation of a separate homeland for the Indian Muslims, whereas Wavell
Plan envisaged a united India.When the question of representation of
various religiousgroups on the Executive Council came under discussion.
a deadlock occurred, The All-India Muslim League claimed that no
other political party had the right to nominate Muslim members for the
Executive Council. The Congress was opposed to this claim. The Unionist
Party in the. Punjab was also pressing for representation on the
Executive Council. Lord Wavell requested the two parties (25 lune, 1945)
to send him a list giving the names of the members of their parties who
could be included in the proposed Executive Council. The Congress
immediately submitted a list of its members which also included the
names of two Muslims.The All India Muslim League did not submit the liSt
and insisted that the Muslim members of the proposed Executive Council
should be chosen from the All-India Muslim League.On 14 July,
1945,Viceroy Lord Wavell announced that the Simla Conference had failed
and that the efforts to bring Hindus and Muslims together have proved
fruitless.
July 20
Labour Party in Power
Prime Minister Clement Attlee, with the support of Labour Party, came to
power.
August 21
Elections Announced
Lord Wavell announced that General Elections in India will be held
during winter (1945-46).
September 19
Proportional Representation
In his broadcast announcement, the Viceroy Lord Wavell said that the
British Government intends to convene a meeting of the
constitution-making body as soon as possible. He said that he will hold
discussions with the representatives of the Leggislative Assemblies and
the Indian States.He also said that first, he would hold elections so
that the will of the Indian electorate may be known. The Constituent
Assembly that was to find the constitution for the new India would be
elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies through proportional
representation.
December 2
Elections
The second general elections in India were held in December 1945. The
Congress, the All-India Muslim league and several other organisations
participated in the elections. The All-India Muslim League captured
all,the thirty seats reserved for Muslims in the Central Legislative
Assembly.
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