1954 East Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Difference between revisions

Legislative elections were held in [[East Bengal]] between 8 and 12 March 1954, the first since Pakistan became an independent country in 1947.<ref>M Bhaskaran Nair (1990) ''[http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/67065/8/08_chapter%204.pdf Politics in Bangladesh: A Study of Awami League, 1949-58] {{sfnWebarchive|Nairurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917171607/http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/67065/8/08_chapter%204.pdf |ppdate=1372017-09-17 }}'', Northern Book Centre, p137</ref> The opposition [[United Front (East Pakistan)|United Front]] led by the [[Bangladesh Awami League|Awami League]] and [[Krishak Sramik Party]] won a landslide victory with 223 of the 309 seats.{{sfn|<ref name=N3>Nair|pp=165}}, p165</ref> The [[Muslim League (Pakistan)|Muslim League]] Chief Minister of East Pakistan [[Nurul Amin]] was defeated in his own constituency by [[Khaleque Nawaz Khan]] by over 7,000 votes, with all the Muslim League ministers losing their seats.{{sfn|<ref name=N4>Nair|pp=167}}, p167</ref>

The [[Bengal Legislative Assembly]] had been elected as part of the [[1946 Indian provincial elections|provincial elections in 1946]] in [[Bengal Presidency|British Bengal]]. Following the [[Partition of Bengal (1947)|partition of Bengal]], the [[East Bengal Legislative Assembly]] was created consisting of the Muslim members of the former Assembly. Due to delays in implementing the [[constitution of Pakistan]], its term was extended several times, with around 34 seats (reserved for Hindus living in East Bengal) left vacant as the Hindu members elected from East Bengal had migrated to West Bengal (where they became the members of the [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]) to escape the communal riots unleashed by [[Partition of India|the partition]], and by-elections were not held by the Pakistani administration to replace them.{{sfn|<ref>Nair|pp=136}}, p136</ref>

Under the [[Government of India Act 1935|Government of India Act of 1935]], which was the main law of the [[Dominion of Pakistan]] until the [[Constitution of Pakistan of 1956|constitution of Pakistan]] came into effect in 1956, the East Bengal Legislative Assembly consisted of 309 seats, of which 228 were reserved for Muslims, 36 for [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|scheduled castes]], 12 for women (nine Muslims, one Hindu and two scheduled caste), two for Buddhists and one for Christians.{{sfn|Nair|pp<ref name=166}}N2>Nair, p166</ref> There were also 30 'general' seats for Hindus.{{sfn|Nair|pp<ref name=166}}N2/>

A total of 19,541,563 voters were registered for the elections, of which 9,239,720 were women.{{sfn|Nair|pp<ref name=166}}N2/> Of the total voters, 15,159,825 were able to vote in the Muslim seats, 2,303,578 in the scheduled caste seats, 2,095,355 in the Hindu seats, 136,417 in the Buddhist seats and 43,911 for the Christian seat.{{sfn|Nair|pp<ref name=166}}N2/>

The [[Muslim League (Pakistan)|Muslim League]] published its manifesto on 13 December 1953, calling for [[Bengali language|Bengali]] to be made an official state language, reform in agricultural and education and improvements in healthcare,{{sfn|<ref>Nair|pp=137–138}}, pp137–138</ref> and began its campaign in January 1954.{{sfn|<ref>Nair|pp=156}}, p156</ref> The Awami League published a 41-point manifesto focusing on autonomy, political reform and nationalisation.{{sfn|<ref>Nair|pp=139}}, p139</ref> The Communists published a 22-point manifesto on 2 December, calling for them to be the leading party in a united front against the Muslim League, as well as promoting autonomy and the recognition of Bengali.{{sfn|<ref>Nair|pp=145}}, p145</ref>

Several opposition parties called for a creation of an opposition front, with agreement reached between the Awami League and the Krishak Sramik Party on 4 December.{{sfn|<ref>Nair|pp=148}}, p148</ref> The Front was later joined by the [[Nizam-e-Islam Party]] and [[Ganatantri Dal]].{{sfn|<ref>Nair|pp=149}}, p149</ref>

A total of 1,285 candidates contested the elections; 986 for the 228 Muslim seats, 151 for the 36 scheduled caste seats, 103 for the 30 Hindu seats, 37 for the women's seats and twelve for the two Buddhist seats. The Christian seat had only one candidate, as did the Hindu women's seat and one of the scheduled caste seats. Two Hindu seats also had one candidate who was returned unopposed.{{sfn|Nair|pp<ref name=166}}N2/> The Muslim League and United Front ran candidates in all 237 Muslim seats.{{sfn|<ref>Nair|pp=155}}, p155</ref>

The results of 1954 elections in East Pakistan were conclusive. The United Front won 223 of the 237 Muslim seats in the provincial assembly and obtained nearly 64% of the vote. In contrast the Muslim League won only nine seats and secured less than 27% of the vote in the contested constituencies. Among the most exciting aspects of the election was the defeat of several ministers including Nurul Amin, the Muslim League Chief Minister.<ref>Rashiduzzaman, M. (1970). The Awami League in the political development of Pakistan. Asian Survey, 10(7), 574-587.</ref> [[A. K. Fazlul Huq]] was elected in two constituencies,{{sfn|Nair|pp<ref name=165}}N3/> forcing a by-election in one of them. The [[Khilafat-e-Robbani]] party of [[AKM Rafiq Ullah Choudhury]], which had also participated in the [[Bengali language movement]], won one Muslim seat.

Following the elections, independent Assembly member [[Fazlal Qadir Chowdhury]] joined the Muslim League to give them ten seats, allowing the party to form a parliamentary group.{{sfn|Nair|pp<ref name=167}}N4/>