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use this opportunity to press for constitutional g The agreement between the parties on a
reforms through a joint Hindu-Muslim platform. separate communal electorate formally
Jinnah was then a member of both the parties established communal politics in India.
and he was largely responsible for the Pact. g Through this pact, the INC also tacitly
In December 1915, the extremists led by Bal accepted that India consisted of two differ-
Gangadhar Tilak and the moderates led by ent communities with different interests.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale met the leaders of the g This pact pushed the hitherto less relevant
League at Bombay. This was the first time that Muslim League into the forefront of Indian
leaders of both the INC and the Muslim League politics along with the Congress Party.
were meeting for a joint session. At the meeting, MONTAGU-CHELMSFORD
the leaders consulted with each other and drafted REFORMS 1919
a set of demands for constitutional reforms. In
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms or the
October 1916, 19 elected Indian members of the Government of India Act, 1919 was introduced
Imperial Legislative Council addressed a memo- after the First World War to meet the growing
randum to the Viceroy seeking reforms. demands of the nationalists and to pacify the
moderates. We have to remember that the
national movement was gaining strength with the
moderates and radicals having merged and
further strengthened with the Congress and
Muslim League coming together. The aim of this
Act was to give more representation and powers
to the Indians. The main provisions of this Act
were :
1. The Legislative Council at the center was
made bicameral. This meant having two
houses—the Legislative Assembly and the
Gopal Krishna Gokhale Council of State. Even though not much
change was made in their powers, the
In November 1916, leaders from both the parties
majority of the members were to be now
met again in Calcutta and discussed and
elected. However, the right to vote was not
amended the suggestions. Finally, at their respec-
universal. It was given only to those who
tive annual sessions held at Lucknow in
possessed property! Present day India still
December 1916, the INC and the League con- follows the bicameral structure, in that we
firmed the agreement. This came to be known as have the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
the Lucknow Pact. For his efforts, Sarojini Naidu All Indian citizens, residing in India and
gave Jinnah the title ‘the Ambassador of Hindu- above the age of 18 have the right to vote.
Muslim Unity.’ This is called Universal Adult Franchise.
Results of Lucknow Pact Owning property is not a condition for right
to vote now,
g The Lucknow Pact gave the impression of a
Hindu-Muslim unity in the national political 2. A system of government called the Dual
scene. But, it was only an impression and Government or Dyarchy was introduced in
short-lived. the provinces, Subjects in the provinces
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