•   It was a proposal formulated by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari to solve the political deadlock between the All India Muslim League (AIML) and the Indian National Congress (INC) on the independence of British India.

•   The League's position was that the Muslims and Hindus of British India were of two separate nations and henceforth the Muslims had the right to their own nation.

•   Congress, which included both Hindu and Muslim members, was opposed to the idea of partitioning India.

•   Rajagopalachari suggested:

o  At the end of the War, a commission would be appointed to demarcate the districts having a Muslim population in absolute majority.

o  In those areas plebiscite to be conducted by adult suffrage.

o  League will in return support the Indian demand for independence and to co-operate with the Congress.

•   The formula was opposed within the Congress party but still Gandhi used it as the basis for negotiations with Jinnah in 1944.

•   However, Jinnah rejected the proposal and the talks failed.