In June 1945, Lord Wavell called a conference of Indian political leaders to discuss his plan for a reconstituted Executive Council. This conference was held at:

Lord Wavell, the Viceroy, convened a conference of Indian political leaders at Shimla (Simla) from 25 June to 14 July 1945, to discuss his plan for a new Executive Council.

The Wavell Plan:

• It was announced in June 1945, after the end of the war in Europe.
• The Congress leaders were released from jail so that they could take part in the talks.
• It proposed that the Viceroy's Executive Council would be reconstituted, with all members Indians except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief.
• The Council would have equal representation of caste Hindus and Muslims.
• The external affairs portfolio would be held by an Indian member.
• It was meant to be an interim arrangement until a new constitution was framed.

The conference:

• It was attended by 21 leaders, including Congress, Muslim League, Sikh and Scheduled Caste representatives.
• Gandhi attended in an advisory capacity, but was not a formal member.

Why it failed:

• Muhammad Ali Jinnah insisted that the Muslim League alone had the right to nominate all the Muslim members of the Council.
• The Congress, which had Muslim members, rejected this demand, as it would mean the Congress was only a Hindu party.
• Jinnah also wanted a kind of veto for Muslims on decisions opposed by them.
• Wavell announced the failure of the conference on 14 July 1945.

Results:

• The failure strengthened the position of the Muslim League, as it showed that no settlement could be reached without its agreement.
• New elections to the central and provincial legislatures were held in the winter of 1945-46.

About Shimla:

• Shimla was the summer capital of British India.
• The Viceregal Lodge at Shimla, where many important meetings were held, now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Delhi, Bombay and Lahore were not the venue of this conference.