INDIA'S FIRST LOK SABHA ELECTIONS
1. Context
India’s first Lok Sabha election, conducted over four months in 1951-52, began the democratic process by which the reins of the newly independent nation were put in the hands of its people
2.First Lok Sabha elections of India
The first Lok Sabha elections of India took place in 1952, marking a historic moment in the country's democratic journey after gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
Here are some key points about the first Lok Sabha elections:
- After India gained independence in 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India drafted the Constitution, which was adopted on January 26, 1950. The Constitution provided for a parliamentary form of government with a bicameral legislature at the center, consisting of the President and two Houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
- The Election Commission of India was established in 1950 to oversee the conduct of elections in the country. The first Chief Election Commissioner was Sukumar Sen
- The first Lok Sabha elections were significant as they were the first general elections held under universal adult franchise. All adult citizens, regardless of gender, caste, religion, or socioeconomic status, were granted the right to vote
- The 1952 elections saw the participation of multiple political parties representing diverse ideologies and interests. The Indian National Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, emerged as the dominant party and secured a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha
- Alongside the Congress, various regional and national parties, as well as independent candidates, contested the elections. Some of the prominent parties included the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Socialist Party, and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS)
- The first Lok Sabha elections witnessed enthusiastic participation from voters across the country. Voter turnout was relatively high, reflecting the eagerness of the Indian populace to exercise their democratic rights
- After the elections, Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister of India, leading the Congress party's government. The elected members of the Lok Sabha convened to form the government and carry out legislative functions as per the provisions of the Constitution
- The first election had 1,874 Lok Sabha candidates and 15,361 state Assembly candidates. Kottayam (Travancore-Cochin), Alleppey (Travancore-Cochin), and Gudivada (Madras) saw the highest voter turnouts of 80.5%, 78.1%, and 77.9% respectively.
- The first Lok Sabha also had multiple-member constituencies, a practice that was done away with in the elections of 1962
3.1937 elections in India
The 1937 elections in India marked a significant milestone in the country's political history as they were the first elections conducted under the Government of India Act, 1935. These elections were held across various provinces and were pivotal in shaping the political landscape of British India.
Here are some key points about the 1937 elections:
- The Government of India Act, 1935, was a major piece of legislation passed by the British Parliament to reform the governance of India. It introduced provincial autonomy and allowed for the establishment of elected provincial legislatures
- The Indian National Congress (INC) emerged as the dominant political force in the 1937 elections. Led by leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Congress won a majority of seats in several provinces, including Madras, Bombay, Bihar, United Provinces, Central Provinces, and Orissa
- The All-India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, did not perform well in the 1937 elections. It faced a significant setback as it failed to win a majority of seats in any of the provinces, highlighting the early signs of the growing political divide between the Congress and the League
- Besides the Congress and the Muslim League, various regional parties and independent candidates also contested the elections. Some regional parties managed to win seats in their respective provinces, contributing to the diversity of representation in the provincial legislatures
- Following the elections, Congress formed governments in several provinces where it had won the majority of seats. These Congress ministries implemented various socio-economic reforms, including land reforms, expansion of education, and the promotion of civil liberties
- The success of the Congress in the 1937 elections gave a significant boost to India's freedom movement. It demonstrated the widespread popular support for the Congress and its agenda of self-rule and paved the way for increased political participation by Indians in the governance of their country
4. What is multiple-member constituencies?
Multiple-member constituencies refer to electoral districts or constituencies in which voters elect more than one representative to a legislative body, such as a parliament or a local council. In contrast to single-member constituencies, where each district elects only one representative, multiple-member constituencies allow for the election of multiple representatives from the same geographical area.
There are several ways in which multiple-member constituencies can be structured:
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Block Voting: In block voting, voters have as many votes as there are seats to be filled in their constituency. They can distribute their votes among the candidates however they choose, including giving all their votes to a single candidate or splitting them among multiple candidates.
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Limited Voting: Limited voting allows voters to cast a limited number of votes, usually fewer than the total number of seats available in the constituency. For example, in a constituency electing three representatives, voters may be allowed to vote for only two candidates.
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Cumulative Voting: Cumulative voting gives voters multiple votes that they can allocate to one or more candidates. For example, if a constituency is electing three representatives, each voter might have three votes to distribute among the candidates as they see fit.
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Party-list Proportional Representation: In party-list proportional representation systems, political parties present lists of candidates, and voters vote for a party rather than individual candidates. Seats are then allocated to parties based on the proportion of votes they receive, and candidates from each party are elected in the order in which they appear on the party's list
5.What is an adult franchise?
- Adult franchise, also known as universal suffrage or adult suffrage, is a principle of democratic governance that grants the right to vote to all adult citizens of a country, regardless of factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status. Under the concept of adult franchise, every adult citizen, typically defined as someone above a certain age threshold, has the right to participate in the electoral process by casting their vote in elections for public offices.
- The principle of adult franchise is fundamental to democratic societies as it ensures that the government derives its authority from the consent of the governed. By granting all adult citizens the right to vote, regardless of their background or circumstances, adult franchise promotes equality, inclusivity, and political participation.
- Adult franchise contrasts with earlier systems of suffrage, such as property-based or literacy-based qualifications, which restricted voting rights to a privileged few. Over time, the extension of adult franchise has been a key aspect of democratic reform movements, leading to the expansion of voting rights to previously marginalized groups, including women, racial minorities, and economically disadvantaged individuals.
- The adoption of adult franchise has been a significant milestone in the advancement of democracy around the world, contributing to the establishment of representative governments that reflect the will of the entire population. It remains a cornerstone of democratic governance, ensuring that governments are accountable to the people they serve and that citizens have a voice in shaping the policies and decisions that affect their lives
- Few countries had universal adult franchise at the time — the US, for instance, granted all its adult citizens the right to vote only in 1965
6. Montagu-Chelmsford report
- The 1920 elections marked the commencement of direct elections in India, signifying a departure from the previous colonial practice of appointing a select few educated Indians to the legislature to gauge public sentiment.
- However, growing public demand for increased Indian representation in legislatures necessitated a shift in approach.
- In response, colonial administrators in 1909 expanded the number of Indian members through limited elections, albeit amid controversy, particularly regarding the establishment of separate electorates for Muslims.
- The Montagu-Chelmsford report of 1918, which assessed Indian Constitutional Reforms, identified the inadequacies of the 1909 electoral process.
- It noted the absence of broad-based electorates, with most being tailored to represent specific classes or interests and comprising only a small number of individuals.
- Even those representing Muslims were meant to be inclusive but were limited to a few hundred electors.
- This report recommended the establishment of a national legislature with two Houses, one of which would consist of directly elected members.
- It also proposed the creation of state-level legislatures with elected representatives. These recommendations were accepted by the British Parliament, leading to the passage of the Government of India Act, 1919.
- Consequently, the need for a comprehensive electoral law arose, as lawmakers would now be elected by the people. Thus, an electoral framework was required to conduct the first large-scale elections in the country
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For Prelims: History of India and Indian National Movement
For Mains: GS I: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country
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Previous Year Questions
1.Consider the following statements : (UPSC CSE 2021)
1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all women above the age of 21.
2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 Only
B. 2 Only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (B)
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Source: Indianexpress
