After the conclusion of the 2nd World War, Lord Wavell became the Viceroy of India. In 1945-46 he did not accept the Muslim League as the only representative body of the Indian Muslims, unless its strength was shown by capturing all the 30 Muslim seats in the Viceroy's Council, followed by achieving a grand success in Provincial Assembly elections everywhere, except one or two regions of the sub-continent.
When the results of the 1946 general elections for the provincial assemblies were announced, it was found that out of 4 Muslim majority provinces, (Balochistan Chief Commissioner's administered area) Muslim League got unequivocal support in Bengal, getting about 98% of the Muslim votes, in spite of all obstacles and impediments created by the Hindu Congress, Zamindars and Mahajans.
No temptation for money or threats of impending danger could deviate even the poorest Muslim peasants from their determination to have a separate homeland. They were inspired with indomitable Islamic spirit, depicting Muslim renaissance at that time, after about two hundred years of British and Hindu domination. (Even A.K Fazlul-Haq who was not in good terms with Jinnah did not dare speak against the Pakistan Movement. Even later he moved the Pakistan resolution at the Lahore session of the League.
Muslims of Bengal-young and old, literate and illiterate, educated and uneducated, worked with a missionary zeal. A revolutionary situation for balloting was prevailing. Muslim League got 116 seats out of 119, (these 3 on KPP ticket immediately joined the Muslim League) all those contested, except these three, against Muslim League nominees, lost their security deposits. Muslim League formed the Ministry in Bengal with Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, as it's the premier.
In other Muslim majority provinces in the north-west of India, Muslim League captured 75 out of 86 Muslim seats in the Punjab; 28 out of 35 seats in Sindh and 17 out of 38 Muslim reserved seats in N.W.F.P. Magnificent victory of Muslim League was achieved in the Muslim minority provinces. Muslim League captured all the reserved Muslim seats in Bombay (30), Madras (29), and C.P. (14). In Assam the League won 31 out of 34. In short the Muslim League captured 441out of 495 Provincial Assembly seats in eleven provinces, winning all the 30 seats of the Central Assembly earlier.
The Muslim League got more than 80% seats in the Punjab provincial assembly election for the first time in British India at the fag-end of the Pakistan Movement due to great efforts made by the Punjab Muslim League, assisted by 1500 students of Aligarh Muslim University. But they could not form the government as the Unionist party members joined hands with the Congress.
In Sindh, no party could form a stable regime and a deadlock was created, Sindh Governor dissolved the assembly. Fresh elections were held the same year (1946).
This type of incident of holding two elections same year was the first of its kind in the history of British India. Being influenced and inspired by the waves of Muslims renaissance in Bengal and deep sense of sacrifice of the Muslims of the minority provinces, Sindhi Muslims voted overwhelmingly in favour of Pakistan and the Muslim League captured all the 35 Muslim seats in 60-member Sindh Assembly. A Muslim League Ministry was formed in Sindh.
Formation of Muslim League Ministry in the region, which was to comprise Pakistan, was imperative and need of the hour. It was a test of strength and ability of the Muslim League as well as people's love for a new state of Pakistan. (Any weak point on the part of Muslim League would have nullified the Pakistan demand). Muslim League Ministry in Sindh was an indicator of Muslim strength in the north-west of India, while the Muslim League Ministry in Bengal was a brilliant show of strength in the east.
The British Government and the Congress realised the gravity of the situation and accepted partition of India on condition of holding referendum (Hindu-Muslim joint votes for or against) in Sylhet and the Frontier province. The referendum gave a verdict in favour of partition. Consequently, Pakistan came into being on August 14, 1947.
On the contrary, if the Muslim League had been defeated in Bengal, no question of holding referendum in Sylhet and N.W.F.P would have arise. Hence, there would have been no Pakistan at all.
Muslim League Ministry in Bengal (with about 30 million Muslims) and the Muslim League Ministry in Sindh were crucial for accepting partition of India by the Congress and the British. But the voice of Bengal was eight times stronger than that of Sindh. In the absence of Bengal, there remained only Sindh having a Muslim population of about 40 lakhs, constituting only 1% of the Indian population, for whom India would never have been partitioned, and consequently no Pakistan would have come into existence.
In this connection, it is worth mentioning that in the 1937 general elections the Muslim League captured only two seats in Punjab, three seats in Sindh and not a single one in N.W.F.P, while in Bengal it won 40 seats and formed the Muslim League coalition Ministry for the first time in British India.
So, without the wholehearted active participation of Muslim Bengal, coupled with the self-sacrificing spirit of Muslim minority provinces, Pakistan would never have come into existence.
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