Another, and scarcely less serious, problem faced by the new nation was that of the princely states. As one contemporary observer remarked, some maharajas now began "to luxuriate in wild dreams of independent power in an India of many partitions". The members of the Constituent Assembly were not elected on the basis of universal franchise. The Constituent Assembly that came into being was dominated by one party: the Congress. But the League chose to boycott the Constituent Assembly, pressing its demand for Pakistan with a separate constitution.
The passage ends after the League's boycott. The lines that follow name another group that was at first unwilling to join the Assembly. Which group was it, and why?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The Socialists, who saw the Assembly as a British creation, not truly autonomous
Option (1) The Socialists, who saw the Assembly as a British creation, not truly autonomous — Correct. The Socialists stayed away at first because they saw the Assembly as a creation of the British, unable to be truly autonomous.
Option (2) The Communists, who wanted the Assembly formed by universal franchise — Incorrect. The Assembly was not chosen by universal franchise, but no Communist boycott on that ground is described.
Option (3) The Hindu Mahasabha, who feared the Assembly would accept the demand for Pakistan — Incorrect. No Hindu Mahasabha boycott is described. The group that stayed out besides the League was the Socialists.
Option (4) The Socialists, who objected that the Congress had swept the general seats — Incorrect. The group is right, but the reason is wrong. The Socialists objected because the Assembly was a creation of the British.
Note: Built on the neighbouring line 1815-019 on the same page; block 1815-016 is thin.
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