The Constituent Assembly of India was chosen on the basis of the provincial elections of 1946. With the withdrawal of the Muslim League from the Constituent Assembly it turned out that majority of the Assembly members were also members of the Congress. Under that circumstance, how was the Constituent Assembly given a broader social basis ?

The Constituent Assembly, though dominated by the Congress after the Muslim League's withdrawal, sought a broader social basis through several mechanisms. While members were indirectly elected by provincial assemblies [3], the Congress leadership actively nominated independent experts and representatives from various minority groups, castes, and women to ensure diverse representation. Furthermore, the Assembly integrated representatives from the princely states, who were nominated by their respective rulers [1]. By April 1947, states like Baroda and Bikaner joined, followed by others after independence . Crucially, the Assembly reached out to the public at large, inviting written submissions and suggestions to ensure the Constitution reflected the aspirations of the wider population beyond the elected elite. This multi-pronged approach transformed a body elected on a limited franchise into a more representative national forum.

Sources

1. [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > The features of the scheme were: > p. 12
2. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 35: Making of the Constitution for India > Constituent Assembly > p. 614