The Poona Pact refers to an agreement between B. R. Ambedkar on behalf of Depressed class and caste Hindu leaders on the reservation of electoral seats for the depressed classes in the legislature of  British India government.Contrary to popular erroneous belief, Mahatma Gandhi was not involved in signing the pact, as he was in jail and was fasting. It was made on 24 September 1932 at Yerwada Central Jail in Poona, India . And it was signed B.R Ambedkar and some other leaders as a means to end the fast that Gandhi was undertaking in jail as a protest against the decision by British prime minister Ramsay MacDonald to give separate electorates to depressed classes for the election of members of provincial legislative assemblies in British India. They finally agreed upon 148 electoral seats.[1]


The terms of the Poona Pact were as follows.

1. There shall be electoral seats reserved for the Depressed Classes out of general electorate. Seats in the provincial Legislatures were as follows:

These figures were based on the total strength of the Provincial Councils announced in Ramsay MacDonald's decision.

2. Election to these seats shall be by joint electorates subject, however, to the following procedure –

All members of the Depressed Classes registered in the general electoral roll of a constituency will form an electoral college which will elect a panel of four candidates belonging to the Depressed Classes for each of such reserved seats by the method of the single vote and four persons getting the highest number of votes in such primary elections shall be the candidates for election by the general electorate.

3. The representation of the Depressed Classes in the Central Legislature shall likewise be on the principle of joint electorates and reserved seats by the method of primary election in the manner provided for in clause above for their representation in the provincial legislatures.

4. In the Central Legislature 19% of the seats allotted to the general electorate for British India in the said legislature shall be reserved for the Depressed Classes.

5. The system of primary election to a panel of candidates for election to the Central and Provincial Legislatures as herein-before mentioned shall come to an end after the first ten years, unless terminated sooner by mutual agreement under the provision of clause 6 below.

6. The system of representation of Depressed Classes by reserved seats in the Provincial and Central Legislatures as provided for in clauses (1) and (4) shall continue until determined otherwise by mutual agreement between the communities concerned in this settlement.

7. The Franchise for the Central and Provincial Legislatures of the Depressed Classes shall be as indicated, in the Lothian CommitteeReport.

8. There shall be no disabilities attached to any one on the ground of his being a member of the Depressed Classes in regard to any election to local bodies or appointment to the public services. Every endeavour shall be made to secure a fair representation of the Depressed Classes in these respects, subject to such educational qualifications as may be laid down for appointment to the Public Services.

9. In every province out of the educational grant an adequate sum shall be ear-marked for providing educational facilities to the members of Depressed Classes.

The Poona Pact was an agreement signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on September 24, 1932, in Pune, India. It was a significant event in Indian history that aimed to address the issue of separate electorates for the Dalit community. The main causes of the Poona Pact can be understood as follows:

1. Communal Award and Separate Electorates:
- The British government, under the leadership of Ramsay MacDonald, introduced the Communal Award in 1932.
- The Communal Award provided separate electorates for various religious and social groups, including the Dalits.
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the leader of the Dalit community, supported separate electorates as a means to secure political rights and representation for the marginalized group.

2. Gandhi's Opposition to Separate Electorates:
- Mahatma Gandhi vehemently opposed the idea of separate electorates as he believed it would perpetuate the caste system and hinder the unity of Indian society.
- He feared that separate electorates would lead to the division of Indian society along caste lines and weaken the nationalist movement.

3. Gandhi's Fast unto Death:
- To protest against the Communal Award and separate electorates for the Dalits, Gandhi embarked on a fast unto death on September 20, 1932.
- His fast aimed to pressure the British government to reconsider the provision of separate electorates for the Dalits.

4. Negotiations and the Poona Pact:
- Under mounting pressure due to Gandhi's fast, negotiations were initiated between Gandhi and Ambedkar.
- The negotiations lasted for several days, during which both leaders put forward their perspectives and demands.
- Finally, on September 24, 1932, an agreement was reached, known as the Poona Pact.

Key Points of the Poona Pact:

1. Reservation of Seats:
- The Poona Pact provided for the reservation of seats for the Dalit community within the general electorate.
- This meant that instead of separate electorates, a certain number of seats would be reserved for the Dalits in the general constituencies.

2. Double Voting:
- The Poona Pact also introduced the concept of "double voting," which allowed Dalit voters to vote for both general candidates and Dalit candidates in reserved constituencies.

3. Political Rights and Representation:
- The agreement aimed to ensure political rights and representation for the Dalit community within the framework of a united Indian society.
- It recognized the need for eradicating untouchability and working towards social equality.

Conclusion:
The main causes of the Poona Pact were the introduction of separate electorates through the Communal Award, Gandhi's opposition to it, his fast unto death, and the subsequent negotiations between Gandhi and Ambedkar. The agreement, known as the Poona Pact, resolved the issue by providing for the reservation of seats for Dalits within the general electorate and introducing the concept of double voting. It aimed to secure political rights and representation for the Dalit community while promoting social equality and unity in Indian society.