Q. "Elections which were held during the years 1945-46 were the most important political event for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent." Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Give reasons for your answer. [ 10 marks ]
Answers
Explanation:
General elections were held in British India in December 1945 to elect members of the Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of State.[1] The Indian National Congress emerged as the largest party, winning 59 of the 102 elected seats.[2] The Muslim League won all Muslim constituencies, but failed to win any other seats. Of the 13 remaining seats, 8 went to Europeans, 3 to independents, and 2 to Akali candidates in the Sikh constituencies of Punjab.[3] This election coupled with the provincial one in 1946 proved to be a strategic victory for Jinnah and the partitionists. Even though Congress won, the League had united the Muslim vote and as such it gained the negotiating power to seek a separate Muslim homeland as it became clear that a united India would prove highly unstable. The elected members later formed the Constituent Assembly of India.
Answer:
I want to attention to 1945 - 1946 elections. After independence no research has been done on voting pattern of 1945-1946 provincial elections and central assembly elections.
In 1945 British PM declared elections will be held and constituent assembly will be formed to set new constitution for India. These elections were a referendum for only India or India and Pakistan, i.e. untied or partition. And Muslims choose Pakistan. Creation of Pakistan was done in democratic way, British were just a facilitator like election commission of India is now. All the provinces were given the right to chose whether they want to remain with India or have a separate state based on religion after Muslim League strongly advocated for it. But not even a single Muslim majority provinces decided to stay with India and instead voted for a separate state.