By 1939, the Muslim League’s influence grew significantly due to Congress’ mistakes in the 1937 elections, which allowed the Congress to form governments in seven out of India’s eleven provinces. Many Muslims found themselves under Hindu rule for the first time, as the provincial Congress governments failed to understand and respect their cultural and religious sensitivities. Consequently, the Muslim League’s claim to be the sole protector of Muslim interests gained momentum. The outbreak of World War II further bolstered the Muslim League’s standing, as it received equal recognition with the Congress from the British authorities. The subsequent Cabinet Mission offered India self-government in return for wartime support, conceding, in theory, the future partition of India.
