Lucknow Pact

Background and evolution

The Morley–Minto Reforms of 1909 introduced separate electorates for Muslims, which the Congress opposed. By 1916, conditions had changed. The First World War had created economic distress and raised hopes of political concessions. Many Muslims were angered by Britain's war with Ottoman Turkey, whose Sultan was seen as the Caliph, and by the cancellation of the Partition of Bengal in 1911. Younger League leaders, including Jinnah, who was also a Congress member, wanted cooperation with the Congress.

Tilak, released from prison in 1914, and Annie Besant were building the Home Rule movement. Both sessions in December 1916 adopted a common scheme, prepared at earlier joint meetings, demanding self-government. Tilak defended the concession on separate electorates as the price of unity, saying he would be ready to give the whole of representation to Muslims if it helped win self-rule.

Key features and provisions

• Self-government: India should be raised to the status of a self-governing dominion.
• Elected majorities: four-fifths of the members of provincial and central legislatures to be elected.
• Separate electorates and weightage: fixed shares for Muslims in each province, such as one-third of elected Indian members at the centre.
• Safeguard clause: no bill affecting a community could proceed if three-fourths of that community's members opposed it.
• Executive council: half the members of executive councils to be Indians elected by the legislature.
• Separation of judiciary from executive.