No India and Pakistan

Reading the Unified India thread I got thinking about what if the Instrument of Accession is rejected by the Chamber of Princes which demands full independence for all the Princely States?



 
They'd simply get sidelined. The Princes, as a body, didn't have much allegiance directed personally to them. Congress was capable of taking control of the Princely States with or without the agreement of the Princes- it would mean a lot more turmoil but it would be doable. The people as a whole wouldn't side with the princes against Congress.
 
They'd simply get sidelined. The Princes, as a body, didn't have much allegiance directed personally to them. Congress was capable of taking control of the Princely States with or without the agreement of the Princes- it would mean a lot more turmoil but it would be doable. The people as a whole wouldn't side with the princes against Congress.

What do you base that on? Didnt people just want to get rid of the British?
 
What do you base that on? Didnt people just want to get rid of the British?

Yes they did- and you have to realise that this was where the majority of the princes differed in opinion. With some exceptions the princes were at best lukewarm towards the Independence movement. They tended to regard it with suspicion because they feared the loss of the entrenched privileges gained under British rule. If the Princes take a stand against Congress, it'll be easy for Congress organisers to spin it as the reactionary princes trying to cling on to their ill gotten privilege.
 
By Congress you mean the congress party?

Yes, the Congress Party, along with the Muslim League and other elements of the Independence movement. I'm just using Congress as a shorthand. Essentially even if the Princes really try to dig their heels in, they do not have the support or backing to take on the political leadership of India (and Pakistan). This way they'd lose all their power and privilege right away instead of later as in OTL.
 
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