<P> Talks, however, stalled on the issue of selection of Muslim representatives . Seeking to assert itself and its claim to be the sole representative of Indian Muslims, the All - India Muslim League refused to back any plan in which the Indian National Congress, the dominant party in the talks, appointed Muslim representatives . This scuttled the conference, and perhaps the last viable opportunity for a united, independent India . When the Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League reconvened under the Cabinet Mission the next year, the Indian National Congress was far less sympathetic to the Muslim League's requests despite Jinnah's approval of the British plan . </P> <P> On June 14, 1945, Lord Wavell announced a plan for a new Executive Council in which all members except the Viceroy and the Commander in Chief would be Indians . This executive council was to be a temporary measure until a new permanent constitution could be agreed upon and come into force . All portfolios except Defense would be held by Indian members . </P> <P> Sir Winston Churchill as prime minister and head of war cabinet proposed Field Marshal Wavell's name to his cabinet in mid-June 1943, as India's next viceroy . General Sir Claude Auchinleck who had followed Wavell in his middle eastern command was to be the next commander in chief of Indian army after Lord Wavell . In October 1943 the British Government decided to replace Lord Linlithgow with Lord Wavell as the Viceroy of India . Before assuming the viceroyalty, Lord Wavell had been head of the Indian army and thus had an understanding of the Indian situation . On becoming Viceroy, Wavell's most important task was to present a formula for the future government of India which would be acceptable to both Congress and the Muslim League . </P> <P> Gandhi waited half a year after he was arrested in August 1942 before launching Quit India Movement with other Congress lieutenants like Nehru and Patel, he was kept separate in Agha Khan's Pune palace while others were kept in Ahmednagar Fort . Now he decided to launch his' ' Satyagraha' ', he commenced after the early morning breakfast on February 21, 1943 a fast for 21 days . Weighing 109 pounds when he started fast lost eighteen pounds after his 21 - day ordeal . Fearing the death of Gandhi in prison as before him Kasturba his wife and Mahadev Desai his private secretary were died in the same prison in Pune Palace, Lord Linlithgow recommended Churchill immediate unconditional release of Gandhi . Churchill wrote back to Linlithgow, "it seems almost certain that the old rascal (Gandhi) will emerge all better for his so - called fast .' ' Gandhi broke his fast on 3rd March 1943 . Gandhi suffered from Malaria, and after that his health was seriously deteriorated . New Viceroy Archibald Wavell, recommended his unconditional release, Leo Amery the secretary of state for India convinced Churchill to release Gandhi on medical grounds, so he was released . Instead of dying Gandhi showed remarkable resilience and recovered . It was quite funny when Churchill sent Wavell a peevish telegram asking' ' why Gandhi has not died yet?' ' Communal problem was the greatest problem for any political advance in India, so Wavell also began to agree with Amery's conviction that until "Aged Trinity" (Gandhi, Churchill and Jinnah) is in lead there is a little chance of any political advance . Lord Wavell had a plan in his mind and was eager to invite key leaders to a summit, but he was waiting for something to come out of Gandhi - Jinnah meetings rescheduled on 9 September . C. Rajagopalachari has presented a formula before that meeting that was accepting the Muslim right for a separate homeland . Talks started on September 9, 1944 in Mallabar Hill house of Jinnah, both leaders spent three and half hours of secret discussion but Gandhi later with C.R. called it a "test of my patience and nothing and I am amazed at my own patience ." Their second meeting proved no more fruitful than first one, Jinnah sensed by this time the futility of talks . Then there was a session of written correspondence on 11, 12, 13 and 14 of September and 24, 25 and 26 of September 1944, but nothing came out of it . Gandhi by now believed that "Jinnah was a good person but he suffers hallucination when he imagines about unnatural division of India and creation of Pakistan". Wavell wired to Amery, "Gandhi wants independence first and then willing to resolve communal problem as he is profoundly a Hindu and wants transfer of full Power to some nebulous national", While Jinnah wants to settle down communal problem first and then wants independence as he has lost his trust in Congress and Hindus ." Wavell also viewed this mini-summit breakdown a personal challenge to bring together two parties . He has many creative ideas, and was willing to use his influence and power to settle the communal deadlock . He would try to bring some moderate Indian leaders on a settlement by calling them to Shimla (India's summer capital). His list included as he told to Amery, "Gandhi and one "other" of Congress party, Jinnah and one other member of Muslim League, Dr. Ambedkar to represent "Depress classes", Tara Singh to represent Sikhs, M.N. Roy for labor representation, and some other to represent Non-Congress and Non-League Hindus and Muslims . After correspondence with Amery in October, now Wavell decided to write Churchill directly and he tried to convince Churchill in this regard though he was sure that Churchill was reluctant for any summit as "he hate India and anything to do with it". Churchill informed Amery the possibility to see Wavell not before March 1945, Wavell on his own behalf met with Jinnah on December 6, and tried to convince him to live in United India as this will be much more beneficial for all as it will represent a strong nation on international level . Jinnah argued that "Indian unity was only a British creation". Benghal's governor Richard Casey was well informed about Congress - League relation that he wrote to Wavell, "Congress is basically responsible for the growth of Pakistan idea, by the way they treated the Muslims especially by refusing them into coalition provincial governments ." Wavell agreed with everything Casey said about Pakistan, writing in his reply "I do not believe that Pakistan will work". Churchill chaired his war cabinet that reviewed and rejected Wavell's proposal for constitutional reforms in India on December 18 . But Wavell was invited to visit England, and met with Churchill and Cabinet in May 1945 . Wavell was allowed to fly back to India in June 1945 to release Congress Working Committee member and start talks that was later called Shimla Conference . Wavell decided to call all key leaders of India in Shimla on 25 of June 1945 and broadcast a message to all Indians on 14 of June 1945 showing British willingness to give India dominion status as soon as possible if the communal deadlock is broken down . "India needs a surgical operation", Nehru noted after considering Wavell's idea, "We have to get rid of our preoccupation with petty problem" as he considered communal problem a petty problem . Jinnah accepted the invitation but if he could meet with Wavell alone first on June 24 . </P>

Who was the viceroy of india when shimla conference took place