The Cabinet Mission, Change in Government Attitude Post-War & Congress Election Campaign

Introduction

After World War II, India went through an important time of change. People started to feel hopeful about getting independence. It was a time when things were changing a lot, and people were looking forward to a new future.  This period was crucial for Indian politics, characterized by notable changes in the country’s political dynamics, with the Cabinet Mission taking on a central role in molding India’s future direction.

Change in the Government’s Attitude

• In June 1945, the government lifted the ban on Congress and released its leaders. 
• The Wavell Plan failed to break the constitutional deadlock.
• Labour Party in Power: July 1945 saw the Labour Party taking over the British government. Clement Attlee became the new prime minister, and Pethick Lawrence became the secretary of state for India.
• Election Developments in India: In August 1945, elections for central and provincial assemblies were announced. 
  • Announcement of Constituent Assembly: September 1945 witnessed the announcement of convening a constituent assembly after the elections according to the spirit of Cripps’ offer.

Factors Responsible for Change in Government Attitude Post-War

• Shift in Global Power: End of the War altered global power dynamics. 
  • UK’s decline as a major power; 
  • USA and USSR emerged as superpowers, favoured Indian freedom.
• The new Labour government showed increased sympathy towards Indian demands.
• Europe experienced a surge in socialist-radical governments.
• Strain on British Resources: British soldiers fatigued, and the economy was in shambles. The British owed India £1.2 billion by 1945 and US Lend-Lease drained British resources, paid off only in 2006.
• Anti-Imperialist Wave in South-East Asia, especially Vietnam and Indonesia.
• Congress Revolt Concerns: Officials feared a Congress revolt post-war, anticipating agrarian revolts, labour trouble, and army disaffection.
• Elections deemed inevitable post-War; last held in 1934 for the Centre and 1937 for provinces. 

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Overview of Congress Election Campaign 

• General Elections of Winter 1945-46: The Winter of 1945–46 witnessed General elections. The Election Campaign aimed at mobilising Indians against the British, not just seeking votes.
• Campaign Against State Repression: Campaign expressed nationalist sentiments against state repression during the Quit India movement. 
• Necessary ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’ :The Government perceived a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Congress as necessary due to mass pressure against INA trials.

Election Results

• Congress Performance
  • Secured 91% of non-Muslim votes and won 57 out of 102 seats in the Central Assembly.
  • Attained a majority in most provinces except Bengal, Sindh, and Punjab. 
  • NWFP and Assam, claimed for Pakistan, were Congress-majority provinces.
• Muslim League’s Performance
  • Received 86.6% of Muslim votes and won 30 reserved seats in the Central Assembly.
  • Gained a majority in Bengal and Sindh.
  • Established itself as the dominant party among Muslims.
  • In Punjab, a Unionist-Congress-Akali coalition under Khizr Hayat Khan assumed power.
• Key Features of Elections
  • Witnessed communal voting due to separate electorates.
  • Limited franchise: For provinces, less than 10% of the population could vote; for the Central Assembly, less than 1% was eligible.

The Cabinet Mission 

• Attlee Government’s Mission: The Attlee government announced the dispatch of a high-powered mission, including Pethick Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade), and A.V. Alexander (First Lord of Admiralty), to India in February 1946 for a peaceful transfer of power. 
  • Pethick Lawrence was the chairman of the mission.
• British Policymakers’ Objective: The overarching aim of British policymakers became a graceful withdrawal, contingent on settling the modalities of power transfer and defining post-imperial India-Britain relations.

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• Deliberations in Delhi: The Cabinet Mission arrived in Delhi on March 24, 1946, and engaged in prolonged discussions with Indian leaders from all parties and groups on the issues of the interim government and the principles and procedures for framing a new constitution to grant freedom to India.
• Congress-League Impasse: The Congress and the League failed to reach an agreement on the fundamental issue of India’s unity or partition.
  • Due to this, the Cabinet Mission introduced its own plan in May 1946 to address the constitutional problem.

• Different Interpretations of the Grouping Clause
  • Congress Perspective: Sees the Cabinet Mission Plan as anti-Pakistan due to optional grouping, a single constituent assembly, and the League losing its veto.
  • Muslim League View: The Muslim League saw compulsory grouping implying Pakistan. 
  • Later clarification confirmed the compulsory nature of grouping.
• Main Objections to the Cabinet Mission
  • Congress: held that Provinces should have the option not to join a group before the first general elections.
    • Compulsory grouping contradicts the emphasis on provincial autonomy.
    • Lack of provision for elected members from princely states in the constituent assembly.
  • Muslim League: It insisted on compulsory grouping with sections B and C developing into solid entities with a view to future secession into Pakistan.
    • It anticipated Congress’s rejection, hoping for an invitation to form the interim government.
• Acceptance and Rejection of Cabinet Mission Plan
  • The Muslim League on June 6 and the Congress on June 24, 1946 accepted the plan.
  • July 1946: Elections held in provincial assemblies for the Constituent Assembly.
  • July 10, 1946: Nehru emphasizes that the Constituent Assembly is sovereign, implying the authority to decide rules of procedure.
  • July 29, 1946: The Muslim League withdrew acceptance of the long-term plan and gave the call for “direct action” from August 16 to achieve Pakistan in response to Nehru’s statement.
  • Communal Rights: From August 16, 1946, unprecedented communal riots erupted, causing several thousand deaths.
    • Worst-hit areas included Calcutta, Bombay, Noakhali, Bihar, and Garhmukteshwar (United Provinces).

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The Interim Government

• Swearing-In: Fearing mass action by the Congress, a Congress-dominated Interim Government headed by Nehru was sworn in on September 2, 1946. Nehru maintained Congress’s opposition to compulsory grouping.
• Functioning of the Interim Government: Contrary to its title, the Interim Government functioned mostly as an extension of the former viceroy’s executive. 
  • In his final cabinet meeting in March 1947, Wavell overruled the ministers, particularly on the matter of releasing INA prisoners.

Inclusion of the Muslim League

• Participation of Muslim League: Wavell brought the Muslim League into the Interim Government on October 26, 1946.
  • It joined the Government without abandoning ‘direct action.’
• Objectives Resolution’: The League boycotted the Constituent Assembly’s first meeting on December 9, 1946. 
  • Assembly confined itself to passing the ‘Objectives Resolution’ drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru, outlining the ideals of an independent sovereign republic.
• Liaqat Ali Khan, as finance minister, constrained the efficient functioning of other ministries.
  • In February 1947, nine Congress cabinet members wrote to the viceroy, demanding League members’ resignation and threatening to withdraw their own nominees.

Ministers of Interim Government (September 2, 1946–August 15, 1947)

Leaders from the Muslim League in the Interim Government

Birth and Spread of Communalism in India

• Communalism emerged with the rise of nationalism in the late 19th century, posing a significant threat to Indian unity and the national movement. Unfortunately, its legacy persists.

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Conclusion

• The post-war national scenario in India was characterized by significant political upheaval, with the emergence of the Cabinet Mission as a pivotal force amidst communal tensions. 
• While the hope for independence soared, communalism posed a formidable challenge to the nation’s unity. 
• Despite the efforts of the Cabinet Mission to address the constitutional dilemma, communal divisions persisted, casting a shadow over the path to self-governance.