1946 ELECTION IN PUNJAB; A POLARISED RESULT; FORMATION OF A COALITION GOVT; AND THEN PARTITION

Prof Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed explains the events that transpired in undivided Punjab following the election of 1946, the formation of a Coalition Government under Sir Khizr Hayat Khan Tiwana supported by the Congress Party, the Sikh Panthic Parties and Scheduled Castes. The Muslim League launched direct action in January 1947 against it and although the Coalition Government ceased to exist after 2 March 1947, the Punjab plunged into irreversible violence. The 3 June Partition Plan adopted a formula whereby the Punjab Assembly was split into two groups; a Hindu-Sikh majority bloc and a Muslim-majority bloc. If either bloc voted for partition the Punjab was to be partitioned. And, that is exactly what happened. The Hindu-Sikh bloc voted for the partition of Punjab.