Congress accepted the proposals with certain reservations. While it accepted the scheme which dealt with the Constituent Assembly, it rejected the proposals of the Viceroy to form an interim government as it would have limited powers.
The Muslim League accepted the proposals completely. It felt that the grouping together of Muslim majority provinces would anyway lead to the formation of Pakistan.
Conflicts between Congress and Muslim League
- Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946 in which the Congress secured two-thirds majority. The Muslim League won 73 out of 78 Muslim seats.
- The League feared that it would be outvoted in the Assembly elections. It also felt that once the British would leave, the power would be transferred to the Hindus. On 2 September 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru and other members were sworn as members of the Viceroy’s Council. The Muslim League did not participate in the event.
- The day was observed as ‘a day of mourning’ by the League, and it asked Muslims in the country to display black flags.
- After several efforts and negotiations by the viceroy, the Muslim League under Jinnah agreed to join the interim government to safeguard the interests of minorities. However, the members of the League refused to work with the leadership of Nehru.
- The Constituent Assembly met on 9 December 1946 without the members of the League.
- The Constituent Assembly passed a resolution to make India an independent sovereign republic.
Attlee’s Announcement
The interim government was not functioning properly because of the Conflicts between Congress and the Muslim League. Thus, it was decided by Attlee and the Parliament that powers should be transferred to the Indians at the earliest.
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