Steps Toward Independence
At the Shimla conference in July 1945 Viceroy Lord Wavell, on behalf of the British Government, attempted to form a National Executive Council in India which would consist of Indian members only.
Under this proposal, the Council would be in charge of the national administration with the Viceroy acting in accordance with what was decided. The conference was aborted because the Muslim League was insistent on making separate representation for Muslims central to the Council’s structure, which Congress refused.
Elections were held in India during the winter of 1945-46 during which Hindu-dominated constituencies were won by the Indian National Congress and Muslim-dominated areas by the Muslim League. At this time, both Congress and the Muslim League were calling for full independence from Britain, however, they had very different thoughts on what an independent India should look like. The Congress favoured a united India, while the Muslim League was pushing for India to be divided into two nations: Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.
In February 1947 the British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, announced the intention of leaving India by June 1948 and that Lord Mountbatten was to replace Lord Wavell as Viceroy. The date of departure was revealed to encourage the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League to agree a workable plan for newly independent India. The partition of India into two separate countries became the most likely way forward.