Tag: first general elections

The State Reorganization Act, 1956 came into effect 1st November 1956. The act recommended organization of boundaries of the states based on linguistic lines. State Reorganization Commission was appointed by PM Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1953 and the commission submitted its report on 30 September 1955. The report's recommendations were debated in Indian parliament and later bill was passed to amend constitution. 

The only exception time in the Indian history of democracy was the period emergency in 1975-76, when the democratic process was halted..

Indian National Congress under the leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru won the majority in first election of India.

In addition to fundamental rights, the Constitution made special provisions for the oppressed castes and tribes by listing them in a Schedule and thus designating them as scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs). 

Congress, however, suffered some unexpected setbacks in three southern states Tamil Nadu (Madras), Andhra Pradesh (Hyderabad) and Kerala (Travancore) where the party failed to win majority in the face of strong support of the Communist Party. 

The  first elections of India were held based on universal adult franchise, with all those twenty-one years of age or older having the right to vote. 

There were over 173 million voters, most of them poor, illiterate, and rural, and having had no experience of elections. The big question at the time was how would the people respond to this opportunity.

The main problem of newly independent India was ensuring the unity of India, which is the country of diversity, its refugees rehabilitation and assimilation of princely states.

The main role of planning commission was to formulate policies which would guide the economic development, so that democracy can be achieved.

The first election was the big task for Indian Election commission because of large number of illiterate population. Hence it was held between 1951 to 1952.