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Demand for a Constituent Assembly
- The idea of a Constituent Assembly for India was first proposed in 1934 by M.N. Roy, a pioneer of the communist movement in India.
- The Indian National Congress formally demanded a Constituent Assembly in 1935.
- In 1938, Jawaharlal Nehru declared that India's Constitution should be framed by a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise and without external interference.
- The British Government accepted the demand in principle through the August Offer, 1940.
- The Cripps Proposals, 1942 offered a framework for constitution-making after the Second World War, but were rejected by the Muslim League.
- The Muslim League wanted India to be divided into two autonomous states with separate Constituent Assemblies.
- The Cabinet Mission was eventually sent to India and rejected the proposal for two Constituent Assemblies.
- The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 provided the framework for establishing the Constituent Assembly.