Elections of 1945-46
Modern History › Post-War Scenario, Cabinet Mission and Communalism · Topic 24.3
In the elections of winter 1945-46, the Congress won 91 per cent of non-Muslim votes and 57 of the 102 seats in the Central Assembly, and a majority in most provinces except Bengal, Sindh and Punjab. The Muslim League won 86.6 per cent of Muslim votes, all 30 reserved Muslim seats at the Centre and a majority in Bengal and Sindh, establishing itself as the dominant party among Muslims. Voting was communal, and the franchise was limited.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Post-War Scenario, Cabinet Mission and Communalism
At a Glance
- Congress 91 per cent of non-Muslim votes; 57 of 102 Central Assembly seats
- League 86.6 per cent of Muslim votes; all 30 reserved Central Assembly seats
- Provinces Congress majority in most; League in Bengal and Sindh
- Franchise Under 10 per cent in the provinces; under 1 per cent at the Centre
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Post-War Scenario, Cabinet Mission and Communalism
Where Does It Fit?
This is the third topic of the category on the post-war scenario, the Cabinet Mission and communalism. The previous topic covered the three upsurges. This topic covers the results of the elections of 1945-46. The next topic covers the Cabinet Mission Plan. Previous topic: ina-trials/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Release of leaders June 1945 New British government Labour under Attlee, July 1945 First INA trial Red Fort, Delhi,…">INA trials Second 11 February 1946, Calcutta, against Rashid Ali’s seven-year sentence…">The Three Upsurges of Winter 1945-46.
What Was the Background?
In August 1945 elections to the central and provincial assemblies were announced, since the last elections had been held in 1934 for the Centre and in 1937 for the provinces. They were held in the winter of 1945-46, after a campaign that had mobilised Indians against the British, as described in Post-War Upsurge and the INA Trials. The earlier elections are in Congress in the 1937 Elections.
How Did the Congress Perform?
- It got 91 per cent of the non-Muslim votes.
- It captured 57 of the 102 seats in the Central Assembly.
- In the provincial elections it got a majority in most provinces, except in Bengal, Sindh and Punjab.
- Its majority provinces included the North-West Frontier Province and Assam, which were being claimed for Pakistan.
How Did the Muslim League Perform?
- It got 86.6 per cent of the Muslim votes.
- It captured all 30 reserved seats in the Central Assembly.
- In the provincial elections it got a majority in Bengal and Sindh.
- Unlike in 1937, it clearly established itself as the dominant party among Muslims.
In Punjab, a Unionist-Congress-Akali coalition under Khizr Hayat Khan came to power.
| Party | Vote share | Central Assembly | Provinces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 91 per cent of non-Muslim votes | 57 of 102 seats | Majority in most provinces except Bengal, Sindh and Punjab; included the NWFP and Assam |
| Muslim League | 86.6 per cent of Muslim votes | All 30 reserved Muslim seats | Majority in Bengal and Sindh |
What Did the Results Mean for the Provinces Claimed for Pakistan?
The map of the results was mixed. The League held Bengal and Sindh, but in Punjab neither of the two main parties could form a government alone, and a Unionist-Congress-Akali coalition took office. The Congress held the North-West Frontier Province and Assam, which were among the provinces claimed for Pakistan. This meant that on the eve of the Cabinet Mission, no party could say that the provinces in question had spoken with one voice, and each side could point to a province to support its case. The position of these provinces became central to the grouping dispute described in Grouping Clause of the Cabinet Mission Plan and Its Interpretations.
What Were the Significant Features of the Elections?
The elections showed communal voting, in contrast to the strong anti-British unity shown in the upsurges, because of two factors: separate electorates, and a limited franchise. For the provinces less than 10 per cent of the population could vote, and for the Central Assembly less than 1 per cent was eligible. The upsurges are in The Three Upsurges of Winter 1945-46.
As an analytical point, the results showed two things at once: the Congress had won nearly all the non-Muslim vote, and the League nearly all the Muslim vote, so that each could claim to speak for its community. This made the League’s claim to represent Muslims hard to dispute, while the Congress’s majorities in the Frontier and Assam, which were claimed for Pakistan, were a counter-argument. The proposals that followed, in Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946, had to deal with these two claims. The effects of communal electorates are in Mahasabha Opposed new Muslim-majority provinces; wanted…">Muslim and Hindu Communal Responses to the Nehru Report.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Results Percentages and seat numbers are stock Prelims facts
- League’s claim Shows how the League became the representative of Muslims
- Communal voting A Mains point on the role of separate electorates
What Came Next?
The next topic describes the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. Next topic: Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946.
Key People and Terms
- Reserved seats Seats set aside for Muslims in the Central Assembly
- Separate electorates Voting only within one’s community
- Limited franchise A small proportion of the population entitled to vote
- Khizr Hayat Khan Led the Unionist-Congress-Akali coalition in Punjab
- Non-Muslim votes Votes in general constituencies
- Dominant party The party with the main support of a community
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Congress: 91 per cent of non-Muslim votes; 57 of 102 seats.
- League: 86.6 per cent of Muslim votes; 30 reserved seats.
- League majority in Bengal and Sindh.
- Khizr Hayat Khan led a coalition in Punjab.
- Under 10 per cent could vote in provinces; under 1 per cent at the Centre.
Do Not Confuse With
- 1937 and 1945-46 League performance In 1937 the League was not dominant; in 1945-46 it was
- Congress majority provinces All except Bengal, Sindh and Punjab
- Central and provincial franchise Under 1 per cent and under 10 per cent
Memory Hook
Ninety-one for the Congress, eighty-six point six for the League, thirty seats and a vote that split.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the results and their meaning. These points add depth.
- Results Congress and League dominance
- Features Communal voting
- Consequence League’s claim to represent Muslims
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Analyse the results of the 1945-46 elections and their significance for the future of India.”
How to Answer
- Results Congress and League figures.
- Regions Provinces won and lost.
- Features Separate electorates and limited franchise.
- Conclude Effect on negotiations.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Congress perform in the 1945-46 elections?
The Congress got 91 per cent of the non-Muslim votes and won 57 of the 102 seats in the Central Assembly. It gained a majority in most provinces except Bengal, Sindh and Punjab, including the Frontier and Assam, which were claimed for Pakistan.
How did the Muslim League perform in 1945-46?
The League won 86.6 per cent of Muslim votes and all 30 reserved Muslim seats in the Central Assembly, and gained a majority in Bengal and Sindh. It established itself clearly as the dominant party among Muslims, unlike in 1937.
Who formed the government in Punjab after the elections?
A Unionist-Congress-Akali coalition under Khizr Hayat Khan took power in Punjab. Neither the Congress nor the League had a majority there on its own, and the province remained central to the dispute over Pakistan, since it was claimed for the proposed state.
Why were the 1945-46 elections characterised by communal voting?
Separate electorates meant that voters chose among candidates of their own communities, and the franchise was limited, with less than 10 per cent of people voting in the provinces and under 1 per cent eligible for the Central Assembly.
Why were the elections of 1945-46 significant?
They showed that the Congress spoke for most non-Muslim voters and the League for most Muslim voters, so the League's claim to represent Muslims became hard to dispute, while the Congress's wins in the Frontier and Assam countered the claim for Pakistan.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Congress won 57 of the 102 seats in the Central Assembly in 1945-46.
It also got 91 per cent of non-Muslim votes.
2 The Muslim League won all 30 reserved Muslim seats in the Central Assembly.
It got 86.6 per cent of Muslim votes.
3 The Congress won a majority in Bengal in 1945-46.
The League won Bengal and Sindh.
4 Less than 1 per cent of the population could vote for the Central Assembly.
The provincial franchise was under 10 per cent.
5 Khizr Hayat Khan led a coalition government in Punjab after the elections.
It was a Unionist-Congress-Akali coalition.
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