ABSTRACT
The tug of war between Malcolm Hailey and Fazl-I-Husain continued. For example, when an unofficial bill was moved in the council by Mir Maqbul Mahmud relating to restrictions on moneylenders, the Hindus opposed it, but Fazli as leader of the government bloc got it passed. The governor sounded Raja Narendra Nath of the Hindu Progressive Party and he said he was agreeable as the plan would preclude the election of a Muslim member of Fazli's party. To keep unity in the party, Fazli tried to convince the two groups that instead of contending they should unite in supporting the more senior Chaudhury Shahabuddin for the office. Fazli thought this would tie the hands of the governor in the face of party unity. The Swaraj Party and the Progressive Party, who worked hand in hand in the interest of the Hindus, promised their votes to Shah Nawaz on the basis of "city dweller" against "villager.".
