The failure of the Indian National Congress to contain the Muslim League and its brand of communal politics resulted from a combination of political, ideological, organizational, and constitutional factors that evolved over several decades. While the Congress remained the principal organization of the national movement and claimed to represent all Indians irrespective of religion, it could not effectively prevent the League from emerging as the dominant political voice of a large section of Indian Muslims by the 1940s. One of the major reasons was the separate electorate introduced by the Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms). This institutionalized communal representation and encouraged political mobilization on religious lines. Instead of promoting a common national identity, the colonial government strengthened communal consciousness by treating Hindus and Muslims as separate political communities. The Muslim League benefited from this constitutional arrangement and gradually expanded its political influence. The British policy of "Divide and Rule" further intensified communal divisions. The colonial administration often encouraged communal organizations and exploited differences between religious communities to weaken the national movement. Constitutional reforms, separate electorates, and communal awards reinforced the League's argument that Muslims constituted a distinct political entity requiring special safeguards. The Congress also committed several political and organizational mistakes. Although it officially upheld secular nationalism, many Muslims perceived it as being dominated by Hindu leaders and symbols. The use of slogans like "Vande Mataram," the prominence of Hindu cultural imagery in some Congress activities, and the participation of leaders associated with revivalist movements created suspicion among sections of Muslims, even though the Congress leadership repeatedly affirmed its commitment to secularism. The collapse of the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation alliance after 1922 weakened Hindu-Muslim unity. The Khilafat Movement had briefly united the two communities against British rule, but its failure and subsequent communal riots eroded mutual trust. The Congress was unable to rebuild this unity on a durable political foundation. The Nehru Report of 1928 also contributed to widening differences. It