Provincial elections of 1946
Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement"; Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"
Meaning
These elections were held in British India's provinces in winter 1945-46. The Congress won almost all the general seats. The Muslim League won most of the seats reserved for Muslims. The result showed how sharply Indian politics had split between the two parties. Only a small part of adults could vote. The legislatures formed after these elections then chose the members of the Constituent Assembly.
Example
In 1946, the new provincial legislatures picked the Constituent Assembly's members. The Congress dominated, and about 82 per cent of members were Congress men. The League won most Muslim seats but boycotted the Assembly and demanded Pakistan.
Don't confuse with
- Universal adult franchise: under this, every adult can vote. It came only with the new Constitution, and the first general election under it was held in 1951-52. The Assembly itself was not elected this way.
Related concepts
- Constituent assembly demand
- Constituent Assembly of India
- Sachchidananda Sinha
- H.C. Mookerjee
- Committees of the Constituent Assembly
- Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities
- Flag Committee
- National Flag of India
- Constituent Assembly as legislature