 Muslims of Bombay elected Jinnah , though then absent in London , as their representative to the Central Legislative Assembly in October 1934 . The British Parliament 's Government of India Act 1935 gave considerable power to India 's provinces , with a weak central parliament in New Delhi , which had no authority over such matters as foreign policy , defence , and much of the budget . Full power remained in the hands of the Viceroy , however , who could dissolve legislatures and rule by decree . The League reluctantly accepted the scheme , though expressing reservations about the weak parliament . The Congress was much better prepared for the provincial elections in 1937 , and the League failed to win a majority even of the Muslim seats in any of the provinces where members of that faith held a majority . It did win a majority of the Muslim seats in Delhi , but could not form a government anywhere , though it was part of the ruling coalition in Bengal . The Congress and its allies formed the government even in the North @-@ West Frontier Province ( N.W.F.P. ) , where the League won no seats despite the fact that almost all residents were Muslim . 
