The Delhi Muslim Conference under Jinnah on 20th March 1927, took a bold initiative to give up separate electorates if their four proposals were accepted.; such as, 1. Separation of Sindh from Bombay, 2. reforms in the N.W.F.P. and Baluchistan,3. representation on the basis of population in the Punjab and Bengal, and 4. 33% seats for the Muslims in the central Legislature. The All India Congress Working Committeeat its meeting in new Delhi on 21 March 1927, recorded its satisfaction on the Muslim proposals.Hindu members of the Central Legislature also approved the joint electorates with reservation of seats on population basis in all the Legislatures but left open the vital question appreciative of the stance of M.A. Jinnahat Delhi Muslim Proposals because the Govt. thought that that the Muslim politicians in general were not ready to give up separate electorates. The Central Sikh league, termed the Muslim proposals as a step in the right direction.However the Hindu Mahasabha challenged the representative character of the INC and stressed that only the Hindu Mahasabha was the proper body to negotiate a settlement on behalf of the Hindu vommunity with any Muslim organisation.The Hindu Mahasabha held its meeting in April 1927 with Dr. Moonje ( 1872-1948) in the chair, opposed new provinces where Musims would get majority.It stressed mixed electorates with reservation of seats only for a definite period of time on a uniform bass.
The attitude of the Hindu Mahasabha forced some of the leaders of the Muslim league to revise their Delhi decision.A general meeting of the Punjab Provincial Muslim League was held at Lahore on 1 May 1927, under the presidency of Sir Shafi.He maintained that until the mentality of the Hindu Mahasabha under went a change there was no option for the Muslims but to continue to insist on the retention of separate electorates as an Integral part of the Indian Constitution.Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938) also expressed his conviction that in the existing political conditions in India separate communal electorates provided the "only means of making the legislatures truly representative of Indian peoples.
The first Muslim opposition to the Delhi Muslim proposal came from the members of the Madras Legislative Council who held the view that joint electorates for Muslims in Madras Presidency particularly "will jeopardise the interests of the Muslims."
Muslim representation of Bihar and Orissa held a meeting on 8 May 1927, at Patna to consider the Delhi scheme of joint electorate. Sir Ali Imam, Maulana Shafi Daudi, Syed Abdul Aziz, Sir Fakhruddin ,etc led the opposition to the joint electorates . Bengal Muslim Conference held under presidenship of Sir Abdur Rahim at Barisal on 8 may 1927, said muslim opinion was decidedly against the joint electorates.By the Middle of may the muslims of Madras, UP, The Punjab, Bengal and Bihar had condemned joint electorates.
