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Rajagopalachari Formula
The Rajagopalachari Formula, also known as the C. R. Formula, was proposed by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (C. Rajagopalachari) in 1944 as a means to resolve the political deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League over the question of India’s independence from British rule.
Key Provisions of the Rajagopalachari Formula:
- League’s Cooperation for Independence: The Muslim League would cooperate with the Congress to demand immediate independence from the British.
- Formation of an Interim Government: After independence, an interim government would be formed with representatives from both the Congress and the Muslim League.
- Plebiscite in Muslim-Majority Areas: After the war (World War II), a plebiscite would be held in the Muslim-majority areas of the North-West and North-East regions to decide whether they would form a separate sovereign state.
- Implementation of the Plebiscite: The plebiscite would be held based on adult suffrage, and all residents of these regions would vote on whether they wanted to remain in India or form a separate nation.
- Agreement on Defense, Communications, and Foreign Affairs: If the regions opted for separation, an agreement would be reached on shared matters like defense, communication, and foreign affairs between the new entity and India.
Significance:
- Response to Partition Demands: The formula was an attempt to address the demands for a separate Muslim state (which later became Pakistan) while maintaining some form of unity within India.
- Rejection by Muslim League: Despite its intentions, the formula was rejected by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League as it did not fully recognize the League’s demand for a separate Pakistan.
- Impact on Indian Politics: The proposal did not succeed in bridging the gap between the Congress and the Muslim League but remains significant as an early attempt to address the communal divide in pre-independence India.