The Congress ministries resigned in October and November 1939, in protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's action of declaring India to be a belligerent in the Second World War without consulting the elected representatives of the Indian population.

The Act provided for a limited adult franchise based on property qualifications such as land ownership and rent, and therefore favored landholders and richer farmers in rural areas.

They now had a stronger standing with their reputation enhanced by the civil disobedience movement under Gandhi's leadership.

[5] The party's election platform had downplayed communalism and Nehru continued this attitude with the initiation of the March 1937 Muslim mass contact program.

In spite of this poor showing the Congress persisted in its claim that the party was representative of all communities.

[8] Legislative assemblies * The weak party system in Sind made party-wise results unclear.

[10] Mohammad Ali Jinnah had tried to set up a League Parliamentary Board in Sindh in 1936, but he failed, though 72% of the population was Muslim.

[17] In Assam, the Congress won 33 seats out of a total of 108 making it the single largest party, though it was not in a position to form a ministry.

After result Unionist Party under the leadership of Sikandar Hayat Khan formed the government.

The Krishak Praja Party of Prime Minister A. K. Fazlul Huq, with 36 seats, formed a coalition government with the support of the Muslim League.

In 1941, when the Muslim League took back its support from the KPP, the Congress and Hindu Mahasabha formed a coalition with Huq.

In the overwhelmingly Muslim North-West Frontier Province, Congress won 19 out of 50 seats and was able, with minor party support, to form a ministry.

[11] Jinnah took a nationalist stance and emulated the Congress's electoral campaign and appointed Muslim League Parliamentary Boards for the 1937 elections.

Through this he expected to advance the party as a coalition partner for the Congress which they might need to form provincial governments.

The Congress domination over the government made the prospects of federal Muslim politicians appear dismal.

The Congress Working Committee suggested that it would cooperate if a central Indian national government were formed and a commitment were made to India's independence after the war.

I hope that the provincial, district and primary Muslim Leagues all over India will hold public meetings and pass the resolution with such modification as they may be advised, and after Jumma prayers offer prayers by way of thanksgiving for being delivered from the unjust Congress regime.