The then Viceroy Lord Wavell, called a conference of Indian leaders at Simla, which later on came to be known as Simla Conference. This conference was held with a view to finding a way to the Hindu-Muslim settlement, and to discuss the composition of an Executive Council. The Congress claimed that it represented all the communities in India and as such it could nominate Muslims also as the members of the new Council. The All-India Muslim League did not accept this claim of the Congress and stated that only the All-India Muslim League had the right to nominate Muslim members in the Executive Council.

The All-India Muslim League was pledged to the formation of separate homeland for the Indian Muslims, whereas ‘Wavell Plan’ envisaged a united India. The Simla Conference failed on account of the refusal of the British Government as well as the Congress party to recognize the Muslim League as the only representative organization of the Muslims while it had become crystal clear that under the dynamic leadership of the Quaid-i-Azam, the League alone reflected the aspirations of the Muslim masses.

On this occasion, Lord Wavell requested the two parties to send him a list giving the names of the members of their parties who could be included in the proposed Executive Council. The Congress immediately submitted a list of its members, which also included the names of two Muslims. The All-India Muslim League did not submit the list. On 14 July, 1945 Viceroy Lord Wavell announced that the Simla Conference had failed and that the efforts to bring Hindus and Muslims together had proved fruitless. The Congress had all along claimed to represent both Hindus and Muslims and to speak on behalf of all sections of the population. It employed all sorts of arguments for a united India. The Muslim League, on the other hand, claimed to represent the entire Muslim community, which solidly supported the demand for Pakistan. At the failure of the Conference, the Quaid-i-Azam demanded elections.

Soon after, Lord Wavell announced that the General Elections in India will be held during winter (1945-46).

General Elections (1945-1946)

In the general elections, the Muslim League fought on the issue of Pakistan. The results showed a decisive victory for Pakistan. The Muslim League won all the Muslim seats in the Central Legislative Assembly, and the Congressite and the Nationalist Muslims, who opposed it, had to forfeit their deposits in many cases. The Muslim League won 446 out of a total 495 Muslim seats in the Provincial Assemblies. The Muslims had thus given a clear verdict in favour of Pakistan and, as such, the verdict of the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah proved true that the All-India Muslim League was the only representative body of the entire Muslim India.