Formation of an Interim Government was the first step towards the implementation of the Cabinet Mission Plan. The Viceroy made an announcement in this regard in June 1946. He said that the government shall be formed even if one of the two major Indian parties, the Muslim League or the Congress, decides to abstain. In this case an alternative arrangement but the Congress declined.
The Viceroy should have invited the Muslim League to form government after Congress’s refusal but he failed to keep his promise. On this break of trust the Muslim League decided to withdraw its approval of the Cabinet Mission Plan and announced that “Direct Action” was the only course left open for her.
Although the Congress had not accepted the Cabinet Mission; yet on August 12, 1946 the Viceroy, invited Pandit Nehru to form interim government. Protesting on this, the Muslim League called the Muslims to celebrate 16th of August as the “Direct Action Day”.