inhabitants of India and they converted their faith after Musl ims came to India.

In this
case India is their home land and they do not have any right to ask a separate homeland.
Jinnah dismissed his arguments on the basis of modern democratic principles.

Simla Conference 1945:

In 1945 the Viceroy of India Lord Wavell decided to conduct new elections. For
this purpose an administrative setup was required to conduct elections. To form this setup
he invited major political parties to Simla. He said that in the interim setup there would
be equal number of Muslims and Hindus.
To discuss the working and formulation of this interim setup Lord Wavell invited
major political parties to Simla in June 1945. Everyone agreed to the principle of having
a council. However the discussion came on a standstill on the point of nomi nations. The
main issue was the nomination of Muslim members. Muslim League was claiming that
all the Muslim members would be nominated by us. On the other hand Congress was
claiming that they have a large number of Muslim members and they represent Muslim s
as well, so Congress also has the right to nominate Muslim members.
Muslim League was in an awkward position because it cannot claim that they
represent Hindus as well. However Jinnah gave one name of a Hindu member to
represent Muslim League. The dispute between the parties was not resolved and the
conference ended without achieving its goals. Dr. M. Moiz Khan
Assistant Professor
Dept. of History, University of Karachi
Winter Elections 1945-46: 0322-2391591, moiz200@yahoo.com

In 1945 British conducted general elections for new governments across India.
The results of these elections were like a new life for Muslim League. The league got
convincing victory across India. In central legislative assembly the League was
successful in winning all Muslim seats which means it was a 100% victory for Muslim
league. In the provinces they were able to get 87% of total Muslims seats.
Before the elections Congress was confident that they would get a large number
of Muslim votes and that is why they used to portray t hemselves as the true
representatives of Muslims of India. These elections officially brought Muslim League
on the equal footings with Congress. Now Muslim League has earned the right to talk
on behalf of all Muslims of India. This convincing victory also strengthened the demand
of Pakistan, because people voted for Muslim League which had a single demand of
Pakistan.
The results of winter elections also bring into prominence the leadership qualities
of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Since the loss of the election in 1937 Jinnah had taken full
charge of Muslim League and had taken the League to new heights. Th e results of Winter
Elections were the confirmation of the fact that Jinnah’s leadership was very important
for the Muslims of sub-continent.

Dr. M. Moiz Khan

Assistant Professor
Dept. of History, University of Karachi
58 0322-2391591, moiz200@yahoo.com
Comparison between the elections of 1937 and 1945:
It is very important here to u nderstand the reasons for th e ou tcomes o f the
two mentioned elections and especia lly the rea sons for the ou tco me for Mu slim
Leagu e. In 19 37 elections Mu slim Leagu e lost elections hea vily by the hands of
loca l Mu slim political parties in the Mu slim majority areas (as discu ssed ea rlier)
a nd the little su ccess they were able to achieve was in the Mu slim minority areas
or where Congress formed g overnment. Dr. M. Moiz Khan
Assistant Professor
Dept. of History, University of Karachi
i. Age nda: 0322-2391591, moiz200@yahoo.com
T he main agenda for which Mu slim Leagu e conte sted elections fo r in 1937
was separate electorates and weightage. T his agenda only attra cted Mu slims
living in the Hindu majority areas and did not appeal Mu slims of Pu njab, Sindh,
Bengal a nd NWFP that mu ch.
On the other hand in 19 45 elections ML had fr amed a new u niversal
a genda of a separate homeland for Mu slims in su b -continent. This agenda was
a dopted officially after the famou s Pakistan resolu tion on 23 rd March 19 40 in
Lahore. T his time the Mu slims of Pu njab, Sindh, NWFP and Bengal saw their
interest in the sense that if ML su cceeds then they will become independ ent from
Congress or Hindu domination.

ii. Alliances:
In 1937 Mu slim Leagu e contested elections individu ally. Other than
Congress which was a Hindu dominated politica l party ML also contes ted
elections against other Mu slim dominated political parties for example, Sindh
United fron, Unio nist party in Pu njab etc.
In 1 945 elections ML ask ed many Mu slim dominated political parties not
to contest election against them to show Congress and British that Mu slims of
India a re one force. Jinnah was able to mak e them agree to this point.
Dr. M. Moiz Khan
Assistant Professor
Dept. of History, University of Karachi
0322-2391591, moiz200@yahoo.com
Cabinet Mission Plan 1946:
The winter elections proved that the division of India was now inevitable. The
success of Muslim League in the elections proved that Muslims all across India have
supported the demand of Pakistan. However the British gave it a l ast try to keep India
united. For this purpose three members of British Cabinet Stafford Cripps, A.V.
Alexander and Pathick Lawrence. Lord Wavell the Viceroy of India assisted them.
The Cabinet Mission Plan gave different proposals to Congress and Muslim
League and asked them to consider them to live together. They said that any solution
achieved now would be a temporary solution which would work for 10 years. During
these ten years the either parties or communities would give another a chance to prove

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