Campaign by various political parties during the election of 1946

Campaign by various political parties during the election of 1946

********************

The primary goal of the Unionist Party, according to its electoral platform released on November 28, 1945, was to better the economic circumstances of all Punjabi classes, whether they were urban and rural, agricultural or non-agricultural. The party decided to accept the secularism principle. It brought the Muslim League (ML) and the Unionist Party of Punjab into direct conflict.

 Both the Unionists and the Muslim League (ML) ran in the elections for every Muslim constituency. The Muslim instructors and students in the province provided Jinnah with a great deal of support during the election campaign. Muhammad Ali Jinnah gave the provinces with a majority of Muslims special consideration. A third of the Unionist Party Assembly members had sided with the Muslim League by the end of 1945.

Among the province’s Hindu population, the Congress Party was also starting to gain ground. In the Punjab, it had defeated the Hindu ‘Sabha’, its opponent. The Congress Party was given the complete backing of the ‘Arya Pradeshak Pratinidhi Sabha’ President. The call for the liberation of political prisoners held by the Indian National Army (INA), as well as an attack on the British administration, dominated the election campaign of the Congress in the Punjab. Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India announced on September 19, 1945, that elections to the central and provincial legislatures will take place in the coming winter.

For the Muslim community, the 1946 elections meant the difference between life and death. The Muslim League (ML) leaders decided to contest the elections in a big way. Muhammad Ali Jinnah had a lot of support from Muslim lecturers and learners during his election campaign.

***********************