In 1937, elections to the provincial legislatures were held for the first time. Only about 10 to 12 per cent of the population enjoyed the right to vote. The Congress did well in the elections, winning an absolute majority in five out of eleven provinces and forming governments in seven of them. It did badly in the constituencies reserved for Muslims, but the Muslim League also fared poorly, polling only 4.4 per cent of the total Muslim vote cast in this election. The League failed to win a single seat in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and could capture only two out of 84 reserved constituencies in Punjab and three out of 33 in Sind. In the United Provinces, the Muslim League wanted to form a joint government with Congress. The Congress had won an absolute majority in the province, so it rejected the offer. Some scholars argue that this rejection convinced the League that if India remained united, then Muslims would find it difficult to gain political power because they would remain a minority. The League assumed, of course, that only a Muslim party could represent Muslim interests, and that the Congress was essentially a Hindu party. But Jinnah’s insistence that the League be recognised as the “sole spokesman” of Muslims could convince few at the time. Though popular in the United Provinces, Bombay and Madras, social support for the League was still fairly weak in three of the provinces from which Pakistan was to be carved out just ten years later – Bengal, the NWFP and Punjab. Even in Sind, it failed to form a government. It was from this point onwards that the League doubled its efforts at expanding its social support.

Which of the following statements are correct about the 'Muslim League in the 1937 elections' to the provincial legislatures?

A- It polled only 4.4 per cent of the total Muslim vote cast in this election.
B- It did not win a single seat in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
C- It captured only 3 out of 84 reserved constituencies in Punjab and 2 out of 33 in Sind.
D- In the United Provinces, the Muslim League formed a joint government with Congress.

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

A and B

The correct answer is Option 1 - A and B

The correct statements are:

A- It polled only 4.4 per cent of the total Muslim vote cast in this election.
B- It did not win a single seat in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Correction in incorrect statements:

C- It captured only TWO out of 84 reserved constituencies in Punjab and THREE out of 33 in Sind.

D- In the United Provinces, the Muslim League was UNABLE to form a joint government with Congress, though it wanted to.

In 1937, elections to the provincial legislatures were held for the first time. Only about 10 to 12 per cent of the population enjoyed the right to vote. The Congress did well in the elections, winning an absolute majority in five out of eleven provinces and forming governments in seven of them. It did badly in the constituencies reserved for Muslims.

The Muslim League also fared poorly, polling only 4.4 per cent of the total Muslim vote cast in this election (STATEMENT A). The League failed to win a single seat in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) (STATEMENT B)and could capture only TWO out of 84 reserved constituencies in Punjab and THREE out of 33 in Sind. In the United Provinces, the Muslim League wanted to form a joint government with Congress. The Congress had won an absolute majority in the province, so it rejected the offer. Some scholars argue that this rejection convinced the League that if India remained united, then Muslims would find it difficult to gain political power because they would remain a minority. The League assumed, of course, that only a Muslim party could represent Muslim interests, and that the Congress was essentially a Hindu party.