1957 Indian general election: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|General election in India}}
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox election
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1957 Indian general election
| country = India
| country = India
| type = parliamentary
| type = parliamentary
| previous_election = 1951–52 Indian general election
| previous_election = 1951–52 Indian general election
| previous_year = 1951
| previous_year = 1951–52
| next_election = 1962 Indian general election
| next_election = 1962 Indian general election
| next_year = 1962
| next_year = 1962
| election_date = 24 February – 14 March 1957
| election_date = 24 February – 14 March 1957
| seats_for_election = 494 of the 505 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]
| seats_for_election = 494 of the 505 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]{{efn|Eleven members were appointed, including six representing [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], two representing [[Anglo-Indians]], one representing Part B Tribal Areas in [[Assam]], one representing the [[Lakshadweep|Amindive, Laccadive and Minicoy Islands]] and one representing the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]].}}
| majority_seats = 248
| majority_seats = 248
| image_size=130x130px


| image1 = Jnehru.jpg
| image1 = Jawaharlal Nehru 1957 crop.jpg
| leader1 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]
| leader1 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]
| party1 = Indian National Congress
| party1 = Indian National Congress
| leaders_seat1 = [[Phulpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Phulpur]]
| seats1 = '''371'''
| seats1 = '''371'''
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 7
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 7
| popular_vote1 = '''57,579,589'''
| popular_vote1 = '''57,579,589'''
| percentage1 = '''47.78%'''
| percentage1 = '''47.78%'''
| swing1 = {{increase}}2.79pp
| swing1 = {{increase}} 2.79[[Percentage point|pp]]
 
| image2 = {{eppt|Communist Party of India}}
| image2 = S.A. Dange.jpg
| leader2 = [[Ajoy Ghosh]]
| leader2 = [[Shripat Amrit Dange]]
| leaders_seat2 = [[Mumbai South Central (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bombay City Central]]
| party2 = Communist Party of India
| party2 = Communist Party of India
| seats2 = 27
| seats2 = 27
Line 33: Line 28:
| popular_vote2 = 10,754,075
| popular_vote2 = 10,754,075
| percentage2 = 8.92%
| percentage2 = 8.92%
| swing2 = {{increase}}5.63pp
| swing2 = {{increase}} 5.63[[Percentage point|pp]]
 
| image4 = Jayaprakash Narayan (cropped2).jpg
| image3 = Jawaharlal Nehru with Jayaprakash Narayan (cropped).jpg
| leader4 = [[Jayaprakash Narayan]]
| leader3 = [[Jayaprakash Narayan]]
| party4 = Praja Socialist Party
| leaders_seat3 =
| seats4 = 19
| party3 = Praja Socialist Party
| popular_vote4 = 12,542,666
| seats3 = 19
| percentage4 = 10.41%
| seat_change3 = {{decrease}} 2
| image5 = {{eppt|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
| popular_vote3 = 12,542,666
| leader5 = [[Debaprasad Ghosh]]
| percentage3 = 10.41%
| party5 = Bharatiya Jana Sangh
| swing3 = {{decrease}}5.97pp
| seats5 = 4
 
| popular_vote5 = 7,193,267
| map = [[File:Wahlergebnisse in Indien 1957.svg|300px|lang=en]]
| percentage5 =  5.97%
 
| last_election5 = 3.06%, 3 seats
| swing5 = {{increase}} 2.91[[Percentage point|pp]]
| seat_change5 = {{increase}} 1
| map_image = Wahlergebnisse in Indien 1957.svg
| title = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]]
| title = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]]
| posttitle = Prime Minister after election
| posttitle = Prime Minister after election
Line 53: Line 51:
| after_election = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]
| after_election = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]
| after_party = Indian National Congress
| after_party = Indian National Congress
| party_colour =  
| last_election1 = {{nowrap|44.99%, 364 seats}}
| registered = 193,652,179
| turnout = 45.44% ({{increase}} 0.57[[Percentage point|pp]])
| last_election2 = 3.29%, 16 seats
| map_caption = Results by constituency
| last_election4 = ''New''
| swing4 = ''New''
| seat_change4 = ''New''
| outgoing_members = List of members of the 1st Lok Sabha
| elected_members = List of members of the 2nd Lok Sabha
}}
}}


'''General elections''' were held in [[India]] between 24 February and 9 June 1957, the second elections to the [[Lok Sabha]] after independence. They were held five years after the [[1951–52 Indian general election|1951–52]] elections in accordance with the provisions of the [[Constitution of India]]. Elections to many state legislatures were held simultaneously.
General elections were held in [[India]] between 24 February and 14 March 1957, the second elections to the [[Lok Sabha]] after independence. Elections to several state legislatures were held simultaneously.


There were 494 seats elected using [[first past the post]] voting system. Out of the 403 constituencies, 91 elected two members, while the remaining 312 elected a single member.<ref name="GE1957V1">{{cite web | url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf | title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Second Lok Sabha Volume-I | work=Election Commission of India | page=5 | access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="GE1957V2">{{cite web | url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_II_57_LS.pdf | title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Second Lok Sabha Volume-II | work=Election Commission of India | access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref> The multi-seat constituencies were abolished before the next election.
Under the leadership of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], the [[Indian National Congress]] easily won a second term in power, taking 371 of the 494 seats. They gained an extra seven seats (the size of the Lok Sabha had been increased by five) and their vote share increased from 45% to 48%. The INC received nearly five times more votes than the [[Communist Party of India|Communist Party]], the second largest party. In addition, 19% of the vote and 42 seats went to [[Independent (politician)|independent candidates]], the highest of any Indian general election.


Under the leadership of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], the [[Indian National Congress]] easily won a second term in power, taking 371 of the 494 seats. They gained an extra seven seats (the size of the Lok Sabha had been increased by five) and their vote share increased from 45.0% to 47.8%. The INC won nearly five times more votes than the [[Communist Party of India|Communist Party]], the second largest party. In addition, 19.3% of the vote and 42 seats went to [[Independent (politician)|independent candidates]], the highest of any Indian general election.
==Electoral system==
There were 494 seats elected using [[first past the post voting]]. Out of the 403 constituencies, 91 elected two members, while the remaining 312 elected a single member.<ref name="GE1957V1">{{cite web | url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf | title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Second Lok Sabha Volume-I | work=Election Commission of India | page=5 | access-date=11 July 2015 | archive-date=20 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320181548/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GE1957V2">{{cite web | url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_II_57_LS.pdf | title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Second Lok Sabha Volume-II | work=Election Commission of India | access-date=11 July 2015 | archive-date=6 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606155958/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_II_57_LS.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> The multi-seat constituencies were abolished before the next election.


== Results ==
The elections were overseen by [[Sukumar Sen (civil servant)|Sukumar Sen]], the [[Chief Election Commissioner of India|Chief Election Commissioner]], who used the existing election infrastructure to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Historian [[Ramachandra Guha]] wrote "this general election cost the exchequer Rs45 million less than the previous one. The prudent Sen had safely stored the 3.5 million ballot boxes the first time round and only half a million additional ones were required."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |title=India after Gandhi: the history of the world's largest democracy |date=2022 |publisher=Picador India |isbn=978-93-82616-97-9 |edition=10th anniversary edition, updated and expanded, first published in hardcover |location=New Delhi}}</ref>
 
==Conduct==
The first instance of [[booth capturing]] in India was recorded in 1957 in the General Elections of that year in Rachiyahi, in Begusarai's Matihani assembly seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Where-booth-capturing-was-born/articleshow/1020435.cms|title=Where booth capturing was born|work=The Times of India |date=14 February 2005 |access-date=21 September 2015|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620024701/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Where-booth-capturing-was-born/articleshow/1020435.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-central-Bihar-development-runs-into-caste-wall/articleshow/49038630.cms|title=In central Bihar, development runs into caste wall|work=The Times of India |date=21 September 2015 |access-date=21 September 2015|archive-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730185128/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-central-Bihar-development-runs-into-caste-wall/articleshow/49038630.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151010/jsp/bihar/story_47122.jsp#.VhikSeyqqko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013155812/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151010/jsp/bihar/story_47122.jsp#.VhikSeyqqko|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2015|title=Empty words in legend's forgotten village}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/the-myth-of-historys-first-booth-capturing-taking-place-in-begusarais-rachiyahi-1150034.html|title=The myth of history's first booth capturing taking place in Begusarai's Rachiyahi|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-date=12 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012142036/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/the-myth-of-historys-first-booth-capturing-taking-place-in-begusarais-rachiyahi-1150034.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Results==
{{Election results
{{Election results
|image=[[File:Lok Sabha Zusammensetzung 1957.svg|350px]]
|image=[[File:Lok Sabha Zusammensetzung 1957.svg|350px]]
Line 85: Line 98:
|electorate=193652179
|electorate=193652179
|turnout=45.44
|turnout=45.44
|source=[https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4112-general-election-1957-vol-i-ii/?do=download&r=9737&confirm=1&t=1&csrfKey=6df04992cf2c2fe96a9487465b425663 ECI]}}
|source=[https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4112-general-election-1957-vol-i-ii/?do=download&r=9737&confirm=1&t=1&csrfKey=6df04992cf2c2fe96a9487465b425663 ECI]
{{notelist}}
}}


=== Results by state ===
===Results by state===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 0.9em;"
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center; font-size: 0.9em;"
! rowspan="3" |State
!rowspan=3|State
! rowspan="3" |Total<br>seats
!rowspan=3|Total<br>seats
! colspan="10" |Seats won
!colspan=10|Seats won
|-
|-
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Communist Party of India|CPI]]
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Communist Party of India|CPI]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Praja Socialist Party|PSP]]
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Praja Socialist Party|PSP]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[All India Ganatantra Parishad|GP]]
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[All India Ganatantra Parishad|GP]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Scheduled Castes Federation|SCF]]
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Scheduled Castes Federation|SCF]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Jharkhand Party|JKP]]
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Jharkhand Party|JKP]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh|BJS]]
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh|BJS]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |Others
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |Others
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |Ind.
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |Ind.
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |App.
!class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" |App.
|-
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};" |
Line 417: Line 430:
! colspan="12" |
! colspan="12" |
|-
|-
| colspan="12" |Source: [http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf ECI]
| colspan="12" |Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200943/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf ECI]
|}
|}


==Voting==
====Andhra Pradesh====
The first instance of [[booth capturing]] in India was recorded in 1957 in the General Elections of that year in Rachiyahi, in Begusarai's Matihani assembly seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Where-booth-capturing-was-born/articleshow/1020435.cms|title=Where booth capturing was born}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-central-Bihar-development-runs-into-caste-wall/articleshow/49038630.cms|title=In central Bihar, development runs into caste wall}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151010/jsp/bihar/story_47122.jsp#.VhikSeyqqko|title=Empty words in legend's forgotten village}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/the-myth-of-historys-first-booth-capturing-taking-place-in-begusarais-rachiyahi-1150034.html|title=The myth of history's first booth capturing taking place in Begusarai's Rachiyahi}}</ref>
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 4906044|seats1 = 37|sc1=+31
|party2 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes2 = 1144811|seats2 = 2|sc2=–4
|party3 = [[People's Democratic Front (Hyderabad)|People's Democratic Front]]|votes3 = 1044032|seats3 = 2
|party5 = Other parties|votes5 = 600686|seats5 = 0
|party6 = Independents|votes6 = 1835800|seats6 = 2|sc6=–6
}}
 
====Assam====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 1184708|sw1 = +5.94 |seats1 = 9|sc1 = –2
|party2 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes2 = 457643|sw2 = –9.23 |seats2 = 2|sc2 = +1
|party4 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes4 = 235044|sw4 = New|seats4 = 0|sc4 = New
|party5 = Independents|votes5 = 415217|sw5 = +4.37 |seats5 = 1|sc5 = +1
|total_sc = 0
}}
 
====Bihar====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 4450208|sw1 = –1.30 |seats1 = 41|sc1 = –4
|party2 = [[Jharkhand Party]]|votes2 = 751830|sw2 = +0.10 |seats2 = 6|sc2 = +3
|party3 = [[Chota Nagpur Santhal Parganas Janata Party]]|votes3 = 501359|sw3 = +2.65 |seats3 = 3|sc3 = +2
|party4 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes4 = 2165462|sw4 = –2.83 |seats4 = 2|sc4 = –1
|party6 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes6 = 502707|sw6 = +4.62 |seats6 = 0|sc6 = 0
|party7 = Other parties|votes7 = 51416|sw7 = –6.00 |seats7 = 0|sc7 = –2
|party8 = Independents|votes8 = 1584894|sw8 = +2.76 |seats8 = 1|sc8 = 0
|total_sc = –2
}}
 
====Bombay====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 8156272|sw1 = –1.49 |seats1 = 38|sc1 = –2
|party3 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes3 = 1457203|sw3 = –11.45 |seats3 = 5|sc3 = +5
|party4 = [[Republican Party of India|Scheduled Caste Federation]]|votes4 = 1354475|sw4 = +3.65 |seats4 = 5|sc4 = +4
|party5 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes5 = 1055013|sw5 = +4.95 |seats5 = 4|sc5 = +4
|party6 = [[Peasants and Workers Party of India]]|votes6 = 924832|sw6 = –1.48 |seats6 = 4|sc6 = +3
|party7 = [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]|votes7 = 566008|sw7 = New|seats7 = 2|sc7 = New
|party8 = Other parties|votes8 = 136749|sw8 = –4.14 |seats8 = 0|sc8 = 0
|party9 = Independents|votes9 = 3109733|sw9 = +6.58 |seats9 = 8|sc9 = +5
|total_sc = +21
}}
 
====Kerala====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes1 = 2267888|seats1 = 9
|party2 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes2 = 2102883|seats2 = 6
|party4 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes4 = 438459|seats4 = 1
|party5 = [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]]|votes5 = 308742|seats5 = 0
|party6 = Independents|votes6 = 932274|seats6 = 2
}}
 
====Madhya Pradesh====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 3967199|sw1 = +0.47 |seats1 = 35|sc1 = +8
|party2 = [[Hindu Mahasabha]]|votes2 = 373503|sw2 = +4.60 |seats2 = 1|sc2 = +1
|party3 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes3 = 1225735|sw3 = –2.38 |seats3 = 0|sc3 = 0
|party4 = [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]|votes4 = 1062936|sw4 = +9.02 |seats4 = 0|sc4 = 0
|party6 = Other parties |votes6 = 376441|sw6 = –7.77 |seats6 = 0|sc6 = 0
|party7 = Independents|votes7 = 608408|sw7 = –3.94 |seats7 = 0|sc7 = –2
|total_sc = +7
}}
 
====Madras====
{{Election results
|party1  = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 5094552|sw1 = +10.13 |seats1 = 31|sc1 = +7
|party3 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes3 = 1101338|sw3 = +1.11 |seats3 = 2|sc3 = –1
|party4 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes4 = 399789|sw4 = –11.43 |seats4 = 0|sc4 = +0
|party5 = Independents|votes5 = 4355162|sw5 = +16.62 |seats5 = 8|sc5 = +8
|total_sc = –34
}}
 
====Mysore====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 3219014|sw1 = –13.42 |seats1 = 23|sc1 = +13
|party2 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes2 = 1082698|sw2 = –10.79 |seats2 = 1|sc2 = 0
|party3 = [[Republican Party of India|Scheduled Caste Federation]]|votes3 = 115214|sw3 = New|seats3 = 1|sc3 = New
|party5 = Other parties|votes5 = 228979|sw5 = |seats5 = 0|sc5 =0
|party6 = Independents|votes6 = 1152535|sw6 = +9.52 |seats6 = 1|sc6 = +1
|total_sc = +15
}}


== See also ==
====Orissa====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 1776767|sw1 = –2.50 |seats1 = 7|sc1 = –4
|party2 = [[All India Ganatantra Parishad]]|votes2 = 1291141|sw2 = +2.85 |seats2 = 7|sc2 = +1
|party4 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes4 = 684023|sw4 = –1.44 |seats4 = 2|sc4 = +1
|party5 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes5 = 214903|sw5 = –0.93 |seats5 = 1|sc5 = 0
|party6 = Independents|votes6 = 473656|sw6 = +2.02 |seats6 = 3|sc6 = +2
|total_sc = 0
}}
 
====Punjab====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 3682219|sw1 = +8.50 |seats1 = 21|sc1 = +5
|party2 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes2 = 1207600|sw2 = +11.77 |seats2 = 1|sc2 = +1
|party3 = [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]|votes3 = 1152672|sw3 = +10.45 |seats3 = 0|sc3 = 0
|party5 = Other parties|votes5 = 333630|sw5 = –23.32 |seats5 = 0|sc5 = –2
|party6 = Independents|votes6 = 807709|sw6 = –7.40 |seats6 = 0|sc6 = 0
|total_sc = +4
}}
 
====Rajasthan====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 2494094|sw1 = +12.23 |seats1 = 19|sc1 = +10
|party3 = [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]|votes3 = 518355|sw3 = +8.11 |seats3 = 0|sc3 = –1
|party4 = Other parties|votes4 = 356278|sw4 = –18.72 |seats4 = 0|sc4 = –4
|party5 = Independents|votes5 = 1280356|sw5 = –1.62 |seats5 = 3|sc5 = –3
|total_sc = +2
}}
 
====Uttar Pradesh====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 10599639|sw1 = –6.70 |seats1 = 70|sc1 = –11
|party3 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes3 = 3511157|sw3 = –2.50 |seats3 = 4|sc3 = +2
|party4 = [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]|votes4 = 3385247|sw4 = +7.50 |seats4 = 2|sc4 = +2
|party5 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes5 = 383509|sw5 = +1.32 |seats5 = 1|sc5 = +1
|party6 = [[Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad]]|votes6 = 98138|sw6 = –3.12 |seats6 = 0|sc6 = 0
|party7 = Independents|votes7 = 4918413|sw7 = +10.14 |seats7 = 9|sc7 = +7
|total_sc = 0
}}
 
====West Bengal====
{{Election results
|party1 = [[Indian National Congress]]|votes1 = 5031696|sw1 = +6.10 |seats1 = 23|sc1 = –1
|party2 = [[Communist Party of India]]|votes2 = 1985181|sw2 = +9.55 |seats2 = 6|sc2 = +1
|party4 = [[Marxist Forward Bloc]]|votes4 = 665341|sw4 = +1.85 |seats4 = 2|sc4 = +2
|party5 = [[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes5 = 590692|sw5 = –5.26 |seats5 = 2|sc5 = +2
|party6 = [[Hindu Mahasabha]]|votes6 = 561741|sw6 = +1.11 |seats6 = 0|sc6 = –1
|party7 = [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]|votes7 = 149351|sw7 = –4.51 |seats7 = 0|sc7 = –2
|party8 = Independents|votes8 = 1456098|sw8 = –4.51 |seats8 = 3|sc8 = +3
|total_sc = +2
}}
 
===Women performance in elections===
Based on the published data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) website.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf | title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Second Lok Sabha Volume-I | work=Election Commission of India | page=5 | access-date=11 July 2015 | archive-date=20 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320181548/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>
====Participation====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! rowspan=2|State/UT
! rowspan=2|Total seats
! colspan=2|Women contestants
! rowspan=2|Elected
! rowspan=2|Women contestants (%)
! rowspan=2|Elected (%)
|-
! Women
! Seats
|-
| Andhra Pradesh || 43 || 4 || 3 || 3 || 3.5% || 6.9%
|-
| Assam || 12 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 6.5% || 14.3%
|-
| Bihar || 53 || 7 || 7 || 5 || 3.7% || 9.4%
|-
| Bombay || 66 || 5 || 5 || 3 || 3.11% || 4.5%
|-
| Kerala || 18 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1.7% || 0
|-
| Madhya Pradesh || 36 || 8 || 6 || 3 || 6.6% || 8.3%
|-
| Madras || 41 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 3.2% || 2.4%
|-
| Mysore || 26 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| Manipur || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| Orissa || 20 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||0
|-
| Punjab || 22 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1.3% || 4.5%
|-
| Rajasthan || 22 || 0 || 0 ||  0 || 0 || 0
|-
| Tripura || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| Uttar Pradesh || 86 || 6 || 4 || 1 || 2.05% || 13.75%
|-
| West Bengal || 36 || 5 || 4 || 2 || 11.59% || 1.1%
|-
| Delhi || 5 || 4 || 2 || 1 || 14.8% || 20%
|-
| Himachal Pradesh || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
| '''India''' || '''494''' || '''45''' || '''37''' || '''22''' || '''2.96%''' || '''4.45%'''
|}
 
==See also==
*[[List of members of the 2nd Lok Sabha]]
*[[Election Commission of India]]
*[[Election Commission of India]]
*[[Booth capturing]]
*[[Booth capturing]]
*[[1957 Indian presidential election]]
*[[:Category:1957 Indian general election by state or union territory]]
 
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
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{{Indian elections}}
{{Indian elections}}


{{#seo:
[[Category:1957 elections in India|General]]
|keywords=General elections in India by year, February 1957 events in Asia, March 1957 events in Asia
[[Category:February 1957 in Asia|India]]
|description=
[[Category:March 1957 in Asia|India]]
}}
 
[[Category:1957 elections in India|General election]]
[[Category:General elections in India by year]]
[[Category:February 1957 events in Asia]]
[[Category:March 1957 events in Asia]]
[[Category:1957 elections in Asia|India]]
[[Category:1957 elections in Asia|India]]
[[Category:General elections in India]]

Revision as of 05:38, 3 March 2026


1957 Indian general election
← 1951–52 24 February – 14 March 1957 1962 →
494 of the 505 seats in the Lok Sabha[lower-alpha 1]
248 seats needed for a majority
Registered193,652,179
Turnout45.44% (Increase 0.57pp)
  First party Second party
  Template:Eppt
Leader Jawaharlal Nehru Ajoy Ghosh
Party INC CPI
Last election 44.99%, 364 seats 3.29%, 16 seats
Seats won 371 27
Seat change Increase 7 Increase 11
Popular vote 57,579,589 10,754,075
Percentage 47.78% 8.92%
Swing Increase 2.79pp Increase 5.63pp
  Third party Fourth party
  Template:Eppt
Leader Jayaprakash Narayan Debaprasad Ghosh
Party Praja Socialist Party Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Last election New 3.06%, 3 seats
Seats won 19 4
Seat change New Increase 1
Popular vote 12,542,666 7,193,267
Percentage 10.41% 5.97%
Swing New Increase 2.91pp
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before election

Jawaharlal Nehru
INC

Prime Minister after election

Jawaharlal Nehru
INC

General elections were held in India between 24 February and 14 March 1957, the second elections to the Lok Sabha after independence. Elections to several state legislatures were held simultaneously.

Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian National Congress easily won a second term in power, taking 371 of the 494 seats. They gained an extra seven seats (the size of the Lok Sabha had been increased by five) and their vote share increased from 45% to 48%. The INC received nearly five times more votes than the Communist Party, the second largest party. In addition, 19% of the vote and 42 seats went to independent candidates, the highest of any Indian general election.

Electoral system

There were 494 seats elected using first past the post voting. Out of the 403 constituencies, 91 elected two members, while the remaining 312 elected a single member.[1][2] The multi-seat constituencies were abolished before the next election.

The elections were overseen by Sukumar Sen, the Chief Election Commissioner, who used the existing election infrastructure to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Historian Ramachandra Guha wrote "this general election cost the exchequer Rs45 million less than the previous one. The prudent Sen had safely stored the 3.5 million ballot boxes the first time round and only half a million additional ones were required."[3]

Conduct

The first instance of booth capturing in India was recorded in 1957 in the General Elections of that year in Rachiyahi, in Begusarai's Matihani assembly seat.[4][5][6][7]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Indian National Congress57,579,58947.78371+7
Praja Socialist Party12,542,66610.4119–2
Communist Party of India10,754,0758.9227+11
Bharatiya Jana Sangh7,193,2675.974+1
Scheduled Castes Federation2,038,8901.696+4
All India Ganatantra Parishad1,291,1411.077+1
People's Democratic Front1,044,0320.872–5
Hindu Mahasabha1,032,3220.861–3
Peasants and Workers Party of India924,8320.774+2
Jharkhand Party751,8300.626+3
Forward Bloc (Marxist)665,3410.552+1
Chota Nagpur Santhal Parganas Janata Party501,3590.423+2
Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad460,8380.380–3
Revolutionary Socialist Party308,7420.260–3
Praja Party140,7420.1200
Independents23,284,24919.3242+5
Appointed members[lower-alpha 2]11+1
Total120,513,915100.00505+6
Registered voters/turnout193,652,17945.44
Source: ECI

Results by state

State Total
seats 		Seats won
INC CPI PSP GP SCF JKP BJS Others Ind. App.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands 1 1
Andhra Pradesh 43 37 2 2 2
Assam 12 9 2 1
Bihar 53 41 2 6 3 1
Bombay 66 38 4 5 5 2 4 8
Delhi 5 5
Himachal Pradesh 4 4
Kerala 18 6 9 1 2
Jammu and Kashmir 6 6
Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands 1 1
Madhya Pradesh 36 35 1
Madras 41 31 2 8
Manipur 2 1 1
Mysore 26 23 1 1 1
North-East Frontier Agency 1 1
Orissa 20 7 1 2 7 3
Punjab 22 21 1
Rajasthan 22 19 3
Tripura 2 1 1
Uttar Pradesh 86 70 1 4 2 9
West Bengal 36 23 6 2 2 3
Anglo-Indians 2 2
Total 505 371 27 19 7 6 6 4 12 42 11
Source: ECI

Andhra Pradesh

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Indian National Congress4,906,04451.4737+31
Communist Party of India1,144,81112.012–4
People's Democratic Front1,044,03210.952–
Other parties600,6866.300–
Independents1,835,80019.262–6
Total9,531,373100.0043–

Assam

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress1,184,70851.68+5.949–2
Praja Socialist Party457,64319.96–9.232+1
Communist Party of India235,04410.25New0New
Independents415,21718.11+4.371+1
Total2,292,612100.00–120

Bihar

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress4,450,20844.47–1.3041–4
Jharkhand Party751,8307.51+0.106+3
Chota Nagpur Santhal Parganas Janata Party501,3595.01+2.653+2
Praja Socialist Party2,165,46221.64–2.832–1
Communist Party of India502,7075.02+4.6200
Other parties51,4160.51–6.000–2
Independents1,584,89415.84+2.7610
Total10,007,876100.00–53–2

Bombay

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress8,156,27248.66–1.4938–2
Praja Socialist Party1,457,2038.69–11.455+5
Scheduled Caste Federation1,354,4758.08+3.655+4
Communist Party of India1,055,0136.29+4.954+4
Peasants and Workers Party of India924,8325.52–1.484+3
Bharatiya Jana Sangh566,0083.38New2New
Other parties136,7490.82–4.1400
Independents3,109,73318.55+6.588+5
Total16,760,285100.00–66+21

Kerala

PartyVotes%Seats
Communist Party of India2,267,88837.489
Indian National Congress2,102,88334.766
Praja Socialist Party438,4597.251
Revolutionary Socialist Party308,7425.100
Independents932,27415.412
Total6,050,246100.0018

Madhya Pradesh

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress3,967,19952.10+0.4735+8
Hindu Mahasabha373,5034.91+4.601+1
Praja Socialist Party1,225,73516.10–2.3800
Bharatiya Jana Sangh1,062,93613.96+9.0200
Other parties376,4414.94–7.7700
Independents608,4087.99–3.940–2
Total7,614,222100.00–36+7

Madras

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress5,094,55246.52+10.1331+7
Communist Party of India1,101,33810.06+1.112–1
Praja Socialist Party399,7893.65–11.430+0
Independents4,355,16239.77+16.628+8
Total10,950,841100.00–41–34

Mysore

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress3,219,01455.52–13.4223+13
Praja Socialist Party1,082,69818.67–10.7910
Scheduled Caste Federation115,2141.99New1New
Other parties228,9793.9500
Independents1,152,53519.88+9.521+1
Total5,798,440100.00–26+15

Orissa

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress1,776,76740.01–2.507–4
All India Ganatantra Parishad1,291,14129.08+2.857+1
Praja Socialist Party684,02315.40–1.442+1
Communist Party of India214,9034.84–0.9310
Independents473,65610.67+2.023+2
Total4,440,490100.00–200

Punjab

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress3,682,21951.26+8.5021+5
Communist Party of India1,207,60016.81+11.771+1
Bharatiya Jana Sangh1,152,67216.05+10.4500
Other parties333,6304.64–23.320–2
Independents807,70911.24–7.4000
Total7,183,830100.00–22+4

Rajasthan

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress2,494,09453.65+12.2319+10
Bharatiya Jana Sangh518,35511.15+8.110–1
Other parties356,2787.66–18.720–4
Independents1,280,35627.54–1.623–3
Total4,649,083100.00–22+2

Uttar Pradesh

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress10,599,63946.29–6.7070–11
Praja Socialist Party3,511,15715.34–2.504+2
Bharatiya Jana Sangh3,385,24714.79+7.502+2
Communist Party of India383,5091.67+1.321+1
Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad98,1380.43–3.1200
Independents4,918,41321.48+10.149+7
Total22,896,103100.00–860

West Bengal

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Indian National Congress5,031,69648.20+6.1023–1
Communist Party of India1,985,18119.01+9.556+1
Marxist Forward Bloc665,3416.37+1.852+2
Praja Socialist Party590,6925.66–5.262+2
Hindu Mahasabha561,7415.38+1.110–1
Bharatiya Jana Sangh149,3511.43–4.510–2
Independents1,456,09813.95–4.513+3
Total10,440,100100.00–36+2

Women performance in elections

Based on the published data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) website.[8]

Participation

State/UT Total seats Women contestants Elected Women contestants (%) Elected (%)
Women Seats
Andhra Pradesh 43 4 3 3 3.5% 6.9%
Assam 12 2 2 2 6.5% 14.3%
Bihar 53 7 7 5 3.7% 9.4%
Bombay 66 5 5 3 3.11% 4.5%
Kerala 18 1 1 0 1.7% 0
Madhya Pradesh 36 8 6 3 6.6% 8.3%
Madras 41 2 2 1 3.2% 2.4%
Mysore 26 0 0 0 0 0
Manipur 2 0 0 0 0 0
Orissa 20 0 0 0 0 0
Punjab 22 1 1 1 1.3% 4.5%
Rajasthan 22 0 0   0 0 0
Tripura 1 0 0 0 0 0
Uttar Pradesh 86 6 4 1 2.05% 13.75%
West Bengal 36 5 4 2 11.59% 1.1%
Delhi 5 4 2 1 14.8% 20%
Himachal Pradesh 4 0 0 0 0 0
India 494 45 37 22 2.96% 4.45%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Eleven members were appointed, including six representing Jammu and Kashmir, two representing Anglo-Indians, one representing Part B Tribal Areas in Assam, one representing the Amindive, Laccadive and Minicoy Islands and one representing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  2. ↑ Six representing Jammu and Kashmir, two representing Anglo-Indians, one representing Part B Tribal Areas in Assam, one representing the Amindive, Laccadive and Minicoy Islands and one representing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

References

  1. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Second Lok Sabha Volume-I" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Second Lok Sabha Volume-II" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Guha, Ramachandra (2022). India after Gandhi: the history of the world's largest democracy (10th anniversary edition, updated and expanded, first published in hardcover ed.). New Delhi: Picador India. ISBN 978-93-82616-97-9.
  4. ↑ "Where booth capturing was born". The Times of India. 14 February 2005. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "In central Bihar, development runs into caste wall". The Times of India. 21 September 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Empty words in legend's forgotten village". Archived from the original on 13 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "The myth of history's first booth capturing taking place in Begusarai's Rachiyahi". Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Second Lok Sabha Volume-I" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
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