General elections were held inBritish India in December 1945 to elect members of theCentral Legislative Assembly and theCouncil of State.[2] TheIndian National Congress emerged as the largest party, winning 57 of the 102 elected seats.[3] TheMuslim League won all Muslim constituencies, but failed to win any other seats. Of the 13 remaining seats, 8 went to Europeans, 3 to independents, and 2 to Akali candidates in the Sikh constituencies ofPunjab.[4] This election coupled with theprovincial one in 1946 proved to be astrategic victory for Jinnah and the partitionists. Even though Congress won, the League had united the Muslim vote and as such it gained the negotiating power to seek a separate Muslim homeland as it became clear that a united India would prove highly unstable. The elected members later formed theConstituent Assembly of India.
These were the last general elections in British India consequent elections were held in1951.
On 19 September 1945, the ViceroyLord Wavell announced that elections to the central and provincial legislatures would be held in December 1945 to January 1946. It was also announced that an executive council would be formed and a constitution-making body would be convened after these elections.[2][5]
Although theGovernment of India Act 1935 had proposed an all-India federation, it could not take place because the government held that thePrincely states were unwilling to join it. Consequently, rather than choosing 375 members, only 102 elective seats were to be filled. Hence the elections to the central legislature were held under the terms of theGovernment of India Act 1919.
One Independent member from Bengal representing the Commerce Constituency (Bengal Mahajan Sabha) had after his election joined the INC changing the tally of the INC to 58 and Independents to 4.[7]
