Page "Jawaharlal Nehru" Paragraph 55

During the period where all of the Congress leadership were in jail, the Muslim League under Jinnah grew in power.

In April 1943, the League captured the governments of Bengal and, a month later, that of the North West Frontier Province.

In none of these provinces had the League previously had a majority-only the arrest of Congress members made it possible.

With all the Muslim dominated provinces except the Punjab under Jinnah ’ s control, the artificial concept of a separate Muslim State was turning into a reality.

However by 1944, Jinnah ’ s power and prestige were on the wane.

A general sympathy towards the jailed Congress leaders was developing among Muslims, and much of the blame for the disastrous Bengal famine of 1943-4 during which two million died, had been laid on the shoulders of the province ’ s Muslim League government.

The numbers at Jinnah ’ s meetings, once counted in thousands soon numbered only a few hundreds.

In despair, Jinnah left the political scene for a stay in Kashmir.