Wavell's Plan

The Background  

During the Second World War the allies of the United Kingdom started to put pressure on the British India government to solve the Indian crisis and to seek further cooperation from India in the war. The British government in India was also staring at the possible Japanese aggression on their Indian colony. This further forced them to start negotiating with the Indian leaders. In October 1943 Lord Wavell replaced Lord Linlithgow as the Viceroy of India.

In England the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill asked Lord Wavell to start negotiating with the Indian leaders. All the Congress leaders arrested during the Quit India Movement were released. The Viceroy called a Conference of leaders from all the major political parties at Shimla in June 1945 and put forward his plan for the preparation of a new constitution for India.

Main Features of the Wavell Plan  

The British government would start negotiations on the new constitution for India once the war was over. The Executive Council of the Viceroy would be expanded and would contain all Indian members except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief. The Governor General Council would have equal representations from the Hindus and the Muslims.

Reason for the failure  

The Muslim League wanted that all the Muslim representatives in the council should be the nominees of the League, whereas the Congress objected for being treated as a party of the Hindus. The Muslim League wanted the veto power and the Congress insisted on being the representative of all caste community and religion in India. The plan fell apart.