A college student is preparing a talk on how the body set up in 1946 to frame the basic law of free India was formed. She notes that its members were not elected on the basis of universal franchise. After the provincial elections of the winter of 1945-46, the Provincial Legislatures chose the representatives. She finds that one party came to dominate the body, and that about four out of every five members belonged to it. She also finds that two political groups kept away from the body at first, each for its own reason, and she wants to explain their stand to her class.
Which of the following correctly describes the stand of the Muslim League towards this body?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → It boycotted the body, pressing its demand for Pakistan with a separate constitution.
Option (1) It joined the body after sweeping the general seats in the provincial elections. — Incorrect. It was the Congress that swept the general seats. The League won most of the reserved Muslim seats, but it did not join the Assembly.
Option (2) It boycotted the body, pressing its demand for Pakistan with a separate constitution. — Correct. The League won most of the reserved Muslim seats but chose to boycott the Assembly. It wanted Pakistan with a separate constitution, so it stayed away.
Option (3) It boycotted the body, believing it was a creation of the British and not truly autonomous. — Incorrect. This was the reason of the Socialists. They felt a body set up by the British could not be truly free.
Option (4) It joined the body but asked for reserved Muslim seats in the Union Cabinet. — Incorrect. The League stayed out of the Assembly altogether. It pressed for a separate nation of its own.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.1 The making of the Constituent Assembly … |