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DemocraticInstitutions in Kerala
Kerala State Legislative Assembly has three parallel courses of development in the three regions of the state namely Travancore, Cochin and Malabar until they were merged together on November 1, 1956 to form the State of Kerala. Travancore and Cochin were princely states and Malabar was a district of the neighboring Madras Province that was under British rule. In a way, Kerala’s unique pattern of development is as much a product of its history as it is of its geography. Almost all the present differences between Kerala and the rest of the country in social development can be traced from the pre-independence period. The region as whole was never been a part of the large North Indian or South Indian empires. There were not much hues and cries of big battlesin the region. So the people had to struggle with their internal socio- economic contradictions since the beginning of large human settlements around the early years of the first millennium AD.The location of the region on the Arabian Sea coast permitted trading and cultural relations with outside world. Muziris, the capital city of the Chera Empire situated on the coast and the numerous minor ports attracted traders around the world. These ports developed into centers of trade between the West and the East. Arabs, Jews and Christians came to Kerala in large numbers first as traders and then as settlers. As a result, Kerala a larger proportion of Christians, Muslims and Secularists in the state’s populationThe region was the gateway for European colonisation in India following the landing of Vasco de Gama in Calicut in 1498 AD. The Dutch, the British and the Portuguese tried to conquest the region . However, except Malabar, the British did not directly rule vast other part of Kerala. The great social reform movements led by Sri Narayana Guru and Ayyankali also led to increase awareness not only of social justice but also of political and economic equality. The reforms had emphasised the need for education as a means for social and economic emancipation. The left movement, which organised peasants and workers, also highlighted the need for education. They were instrumental in bringing about the most comprehensive land reform legislation in the state.Travancore was the earliest among the Indian states to establish democratic institutions to associate the people with the administration. On March 30, 1888 a Council established for the purpose of making laws and regulations. The Council had eight members, six officials and two non-officials who were nominated by the Maharaja and presided over by the Dewan. The tenure of the Council was three years. The inaugural meeting of the Council was held on Thursday the 23rd August 1888. The Council’s functions were mainly of advisory natureMeanwhile elites had started demands to have a share in the government of the state. More than ten thousand people including top ranking men of all prominent communities signed a memorandum in 1891 and submitted it to the Maharaja, known as the ”Malayali Memorial”, the complaint was about“ the denial to people the fair share in the government of the country and their systematic exclusion from the higher grades of its services”. It was the beginning of a series of popular agitations, which eventually resulted in the establishment of responsible Government.On March 21, 1898, membership of the Council was raised to 15. The proportion of non-officials was fixed as two fifth of the total. In 1904, bicameral structure was introduced by constituting the Sri Mualm Popular Assembly in addition to the Legislative Council. It was “an assembly of the representatives of the landholders and merchants in the country”. The objective of Assembly was “ to give the people an opportunity of bringing to the notice of government their requirements, wishes or grievances on the one hand, and on the other, to make the policy and measures of Government better known to the people so that all possible grounds of misconception in regard to the actions of the Government may be removed”. According to the order 1904 for constituting the Assembly, the members of the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly were to be selected by the heads of districts, two representatives of the agricultural, trading and industrial interests being chosen from each taluk, from among the landholders who pay on their own account an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.100 and landholders or traders whose net annual income was Rs.6,000 or above.The first meeting of the Sri Mulam Thirunal Popular Assembly was held on October 22, 1904 in the Victoria Jubilee Town Hall, Thiruvananthapuram. The government nominated the members from among the agricultural, trading, industrial and other classes. From the second year onwards the privilege of electing members to the Assembly was extended to some more sections of people. Rules regulating the constitution and conduct of business of the Assembly were issued on May 1, 1905. The total number of members in the Assembly was 100 and the membership was only for a year. Seventy-seven members were elected and the remaining 23 were nominated by the Government to represent different interest groups and communities. Every person who paid on his account an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.50 or whose net income was not less than Rs. 2,000 and every graduate of a recognised University of not less than ten years standing and having his residence in any of the taluks was given the right to vote. In addition to the general constituencies, the municipal councils, the planters associations, the mercantile and trading classes, and the landlords were allowed to elect representatives.The Sri Mulam Thirunal Popular Assembly, though not a lawmaking body, became in course of time a powerful forum for expression of public feelings. Each member was allowed to bring forward two subjects before the Assembly. Representations and agitations repeatedly occurred for the enlargement of the strength, powers and functions of the Legislative Council and for conferring on the Assembly of the right to elect members to the Legislative Council. In 1907 the Assembly was enabled to elect four members to the Legislative Council.The Legislative Council was remodeled in 1919, in order “ to give the people a greater share in the work of administration and to enhance the sphere of usefulness of the Legislative Council by giving the Council a broader basis and larger powers.” The strength of the Council was raised to a maximum of 25. Eight of the eleven non-official seats were open for election, thereby introducing for the first time elected members in the Council. The right to discuss the annual budget and the right to raise interpellations were conceded.In October 1921 the composition and character of the Council underwent further changes. The strength of the council was raised to fifty, of whom 28 were elected and 22 nominated. Among the nominated members, 7 were to be non-officials. Provision was made for a non-official majority in the Council. A Deputy President, not necessarily an official was appointed to preside over the meetings of the Council in the absence of the President, who was the Dewan. The members were given the right to vote on the budget demands subject to certain limitations, to move resolutions on matters of public interest, to ask supplementary questions and to bring motions for adjournment. In 1930, freedom of speech was guaranteed in the Council.On October 28, 1932 Sri Mulam Popular Assembly and the Legislative Council were abolished and new Bicameral Legislative was created on January 1, 1933. The Lower House was called the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly and the Upper House the Sri Chitra State Council. The Assembly consisted of 72 members of whom 27 were non- officials. Of the 72 members of the Assembly, general constituencies elected 43 and 5 from special constituencies and 14 seats in the Assembly were reserved for minority Communities. In the Council, out of the 27 non-official members, 16 members were elected from general territorial constituencies and 6 from special constituencies. The Government nominated five members.The powers, privileges and functions of the Legislature were enhanced. The Dewan was the ex-officio President of both the Houses. The Assembly had to elect Deputy President. The Assembly was given the right to the vote on Demands for Grants and or reduce or to omit any item of the demands. The right of asking supplementary questions extended to all.The Bicameral Legislature continued till September 4, 1947 when the responsible government was established in Travancore. The new Assembly, the Representative Body was functioned as the Constituent Assembly of Travancore. It had 120 members elected on the basis of adult franchise. The Constituent Assembly held its first sitting on March 20, 1948 and A.J.John was elected as its first President. In that meeting the Constituent Assembly expressed the desire to be invested with powers and functions of a Legislative Assembly and to have a ministry responsible to it. In Accordance with that desire the Travancore Interim Constitution Act, was promulgated on March 24, 1948 with provision for a Council of Ministers headed by a Prime Minister. The Council of Ministers was made collectively responsible to the Assembly and the Maharaja became the constitutional head. Pattom Thanu Pillai became the first Prime Minister of Travancore on March 24, 1948,and ruled till October 22, 1948. Parur T.K. Narayanapillai succeeded him.The Legislative Council of KochiThe Legislative Council was formed in Kochi in 1925 with 45 members, in which 30 were elected members. Voting right was given to landlords, estate owners, merchants and businessmen only. Full freedom of opinion was also granted in the council. In 1935 the powers of the Council were increased. In 1932, the strength of the Council was increased to 36 elected members and 18 nominated members. In 1935 four standing Advisory Committees of the Legislative Council were constituted. In 1938,the system of Diarchy was introduced in Cochin.Ambat Sivarama Menon appointed as Minister for Rural Development. The number of Ministers raised to four and more subjects were transferred. The first popular ministry of Cochin consisting of Panampilly Givonda Menon, C.R.Iyyunni, K.Ayyappan and T.K.Nair assumed office on September 9, 1946. On August 14, 1947 the Maharaja of Cochin announced full responsibility to the government. A Council of Ministers with Panampilly Givinda Menon as Prime Minister assumed office on September 1, 1947 Subsequently a Council of Ministers with T.K.Nair as Prime Minister was formed on October 27,1947 and it continued till September 20, 1948. In 1948, Universal Adult Franchise was introduced and Legislative Council was named as Legislative Assembly. After the general elections a popular ministry headed by Ikkanda Warrier was formed on September 20, 1948 and it remained in office till the integration of Travancore and Cochin on July 1, 1949Democratisation in MalabarMalabar region was a district of the Madras Province in the British rule and continued in the Madras State after independence. The Malabar district was being represented in the Madras Legislative Assembly from 1920’s. In the elections to the Madras Legislature held in 1936, almost all the Congress candidates from Malabar were elected. Kongattil Raman Menon served as a minister in the Rajagopalachari Cabinet during 1937-39. In the first general elections to the Legislative Assembly held in 1951, A total of 29 members were represented in the Madras Legislative Assembly.It was in 1800 AD, that the district of Malabar became a part of the Madras presidency. Major McLeod was the first Principal Collector of Malabar. The Pazhassi revolt gave a push to the construction of roads in the interior areas of Malabar. The spices were cultivated and coffee was introducedfirsttimeinWayanad.The contribution of Malabar to the national movement was noteworthy. The Indian National Congress founded in 1885 had its prototypes in Malabar from early days. A District Congress Committee was formed in Malabar in 1908. A branch of All India Home Rule League also started functioning in the district. From 1916 onwards-political conferences were held in Malabar to bring the grievances of the people to the attention of the government. The most important political movement during this period was the Malabar Rebellion. The announcement of Salt Satyagraha made its impact all over Kerala. In 1930, as a part of Satyagraha, several batches of satyagrahis marched to Payyannur to take part in the struggle. Malabar played an important role in the Second Civil Disobedience Movement. In 1934 Congress Socialist Party formed. An extremist group of nationalist Muslims under the leadership of Muhammed Abdurahiman also came into existence during this period. The emergence of Muslim League in the late thirties was an important factor in Malabar politics. The leftists within the Congress party came out as the Communist party in 1939.When the states of the Indian Union were reorganised on linguistic basis, the Malabar District was added on to Travancore – Cochin to form new state of Kerala on November 1, 1956.First Election After IndependenceOn September 4, 1947 the Maharaja of Thiruvithamcore issued a declaration to elect Constituent Assembly in Travancore as a prelude to adult franchise. The election was held in February 1948. Out of the total 120 seats, the Indian National Congress contested 112 and won 97 seats, The Muslim League secured eight, Tamil Nadu Congress 14 and Independent one. The Communist Party contested 17 seats and the K S P eight, but they could not open an account in the house. On March 20, 1948 the Thiruvithamcore Constituent Assembly came into being, the first of its kind formed on the basis of adult franchise in the country.INTEGRATION OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHINTravancore and Cochin were integrated on July 1, 1949. The Maharaja of Travancore became the Head of Travancore –Cochin. The Legislative Assembly was composed of members from the representative bodies of Travancore and Cochin. The ministers of Travancore and Cochin continued in their respective offices. T.M.Varghese was elected as the speaker. The first meeting was held on July 11, 1949.First General Election in the RepublicThe Constitutional Assembly in the Centre introduced the New Constitution and India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic on January 26, 1950. The first general election was held from December 10, 1951 to January 26, 1952. In Thiru-Kochi, out of the 108 seats, Congress got 44 (three uncontested), Socialists 11 (One uncontested), Communists 25, Revolutionary Socialist Party 6, Thiruvithamcore Tamilnadu Congress (TTNC) 8, K S P and Cochin party one each and the Independents 12. The Communist party was then banned in Thiru-Kochi. On 12th March 1952 a six-member ministry was sworn-in with A J John as Chief Minister. Later one representative of the T T N C also induced into the cabinet following the alliance made with Congress. Due to disagreement between Congress and T T N C, which demanded a separate Congress organisation for Tamils, a confidence motion had rejected by the House. The Assembly was dissolved and the ministry continued as Caretaker Government. Though the Congress government continued as a caretaker but, the verdict of the people was against Congress.By-Elections of 1954The second election to the Thiru -Kochi Assembly was held in February 1954. Following delimitation, the number of constituencies rose to 118. The party position was INC-45, T T N C- 12, P S P-19, Communist party-23, R S P-9, K S P-3,and the Independents-6. Though there was an electoral understanding between the Congress and the P S P the latter refused to support the Congress in forming a ministry. It was the first electoral alliance of political parties in India. The Congress extended support to the P S P to form a cabinet. Four-member cabinet of the P S P with Pattom Thanu Pillai as leader came to power. When the Congress withdrew its support to the P S P ministry, it had to resign. In continuation of this Panampilly Menon of Congress became the Chief Minister. His government too had only a short life. Subsequent to the fall of his ministry, presidential rule was imposed in the state in March 1956. FORMATION OF KERALA STATEFORMATION OF KERALA STATEIt was long cherished dream of Malayalees in the region to have a homeland based on their mother tongue. It was President’s rule in Travancore-Cochin, when the decision to re-organise the states on linguistic basis was taken by the Government of India. Some Tamil speaking taluks were separated from Travancore-Cochin and included in Madras State. Malabar and the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara were added on to Travancore-Cochin to constitute the new state of Kerala. The State of Kerala formally came into existence on November1st1956. Elections to The Kerala Legislative Assembly The Kerala Legislative Assembly is the Supreme law making body of the state. In 1956 when the Kerala State was formed, it was under the presidential administration and there was no legislative assembly in the newly formed state. Following the general election the First Kerala Legislative assembly came into existence on 6th March 1957.The assembly is divided into the ruling party (Treasury bench) and the opposition party (opposition bench). The leader of the majority party would be the Chief Minister. The council of ministers headed by the Chief Minister is called the ministry or cabinet. The executive authority of the government is vested with them and they are responsible to the Assembly.The adoption of the Annual Budget and Finance bill is one of the primary responsibilities of the Assembly. It is the constitutional duty of the assembly to open a debate on the budget as soon as the Finance Minister presents it in the Assembly. It may accord its approval to the statement of income and expenditure for the concerned financial year and to the accompanying financial bill. The Assembly is also empowered to sanction supplementary grants whenever necessary. The Assembly is empowered to discuss any matter of importance to the State and adopt resolutions. It can vote for the election of the President of India and elect the Rajya Sabha members.1 Indian Constitution gives the states and union territories significant control over their own government. The legislative assemblies are directly elected bodies set up to carrying out the administration of the government in the states of India. In some states there is a bicameral organisation of legislatures, with both an upper and Lower House. Elections to assemblies are carried out in the same manner as for the Lok Sabha election, with the states and union territoriesas
Kerala State Legislative Assembly has three parallel courses of development in the three regions of the state namely Travancore, Cochin and Malabar until they were merged together on November 1, 1956 to form the State of Kerala. Travancore and Cochin were princely states and Malabar was a district of the neighboring Madras Province that was under British rule. In a way, Kerala’s unique pattern of development is as much a product of its history as it is of its geography. Almost all the present differences between Kerala and the rest of the country in social development can be traced from the pre-independence period. The region as whole was never been a part of the large North Indian or South Indian empires. There were not much hues and cries of big battlesin the region. So the people had to struggle with their internal socio- economic contradictions since the beginning of large human settlements around the early years of the first millennium AD.The location of the region on the Arabian Sea coast permitted trading and cultural relations with outside world. Muziris, the capital city of the Chera Empire situated on the coast and the numerous minor ports attracted traders around the world. These ports developed into centers of trade between the West and the East. Arabs, Jews and Christians came to Kerala in large numbers first as traders and then as settlers. As a result, Kerala a larger proportion of Christians, Muslims and Secularists in the state’s populationThe region was the gateway for European colonisation in India following the landing of Vasco de Gama in Calicut in 1498 AD. The Dutch, the British and the Portuguese tried to conquest the region . However, except Malabar, the British did not directly rule vast other part of Kerala. The great social reform movements led by Sri Narayana Guru and Ayyankali also led to increase awareness not only of social justice but also of political and economic equality. The reforms had emphasised the need for education as a means for social and economic emancipation. The left movement, which organised peasants and workers, also highlighted the need for education. They were instrumental in bringing about the most comprehensive land reform legislation in the state.Travancore was the earliest among the Indian states to establish democratic institutions to associate the people with the administration. On March 30, 1888 a Council established for the purpose of making laws and regulations. The Council had eight members, six officials and two non-officials who were nominated by the Maharaja and presided over by the Dewan. The tenure of the Council was three years. The inaugural meeting of the Council was held on Thursday the 23rd August 1888. The Council’s functions were mainly of advisory natureMeanwhile elites had started demands to have a share in the government of the state. More than ten thousand people including top ranking men of all prominent communities signed a memorandum in 1891 and submitted it to the Maharaja, known as the ”Malayali Memorial”, the complaint was about“ the denial to people the fair share in the government of the country and their systematic exclusion from the higher grades of its services”. It was the beginning of a series of popular agitations, which eventually resulted in the establishment of responsible Government.On March 21, 1898, membership of the Council was raised to 15. The proportion of non-officials was fixed as two fifth of the total. In 1904, bicameral structure was introduced by constituting the Sri Mualm Popular Assembly in addition to the Legislative Council. It was “an assembly of the representatives of the landholders and merchants in the country”. The objective of Assembly was “ to give the people an opportunity of bringing to the notice of government their requirements, wishes or grievances on the one hand, and on the other, to make the policy and measures of Government better known to the people so that all possible grounds of misconception in regard to the actions of the Government may be removed”. According to the order 1904 for constituting the Assembly, the members of the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly were to be selected by the heads of districts, two representatives of the agricultural, trading and industrial interests being chosen from each taluk, from among the landholders who pay on their own account an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.100 and landholders or traders whose net annual income was Rs.6,000 or above.The first meeting of the Sri Mulam Thirunal Popular Assembly was held on October 22, 1904 in the Victoria Jubilee Town Hall, Thiruvananthapuram. The government nominated the members from among the agricultural, trading, industrial and other classes. From the second year onwards the privilege of electing members to the Assembly was extended to some more sections of people. Rules regulating the constitution and conduct of business of the Assembly were issued on May 1, 1905. The total number of members in the Assembly was 100 and the membership was only for a year. Seventy-seven members were elected and the remaining 23 were nominated by the Government to represent different interest groups and communities. Every person who paid on his account an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.50 or whose net income was not less than Rs. 2,000 and every graduate of a recognised University of not less than ten years standing and having his residence in any of the taluks was given the right to vote. In addition to the general constituencies, the municipal councils, the planters associations, the mercantile and trading classes, and the landlords were allowed to elect representatives.The Sri Mulam Thirunal Popular Assembly, though not a lawmaking body, became in course of time a powerful forum for expression of public feelings. Each member was allowed to bring forward two subjects before the Assembly. Representations and agitations repeatedly occurred for the enlargement of the strength, powers and functions of the Legislative Council and for conferring on the Assembly of the right to elect members to the Legislative Council. In 1907 the Assembly was enabled to elect four members to the Legislative Council.The Legislative Council was remodeled in 1919, in order “ to give the people a greater share in the work of administration and to enhance the sphere of usefulness of the Legislative Council by giving the Council a broader basis and larger powers.” The strength of the Council was raised to a maximum of 25. Eight of the eleven non-official seats were open for election, thereby introducing for the first time elected members in the Council. The right to discuss the annual budget and the right to raise interpellations were conceded.In October 1921 the composition and character of the Council underwent further changes. The strength of the council was raised to fifty, of whom 28 were elected and 22 nominated. Among the nominated members, 7 were to be non-officials. Provision was made for a non-official majority in the Council. A Deputy President, not necessarily an official was appointed to preside over the meetings of the Council in the absence of the President, who was the Dewan. The members were given the right to vote on the budget demands subject to certain limitations, to move resolutions on matters of public interest, to ask supplementary questions and to bring motions for adjournment. In 1930, freedom of speech was guaranteed in the Council.On October 28, 1932 Sri Mulam Popular Assembly and the Legislative Council were abolished and new Bicameral Legislative was created on January 1, 1933. The Lower House was called the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly and the Upper House the Sri Chitra State Council. The Assembly consisted of 72 members of whom 27 were non- officials. Of the 72 members of the Assembly, general constituencies elected 43 and 5 from special constituencies and 14 seats in the Assembly were reserved for minority Communities. In the Council, out of the 27 non-official members, 16 members were elected from general territorial constituencies and 6 from special constituencies. The Government nominated five members.The powers, privileges and functions of the Legislature were enhanced. The Dewan was the ex-officio President of both the Houses. The Assembly had to elect Deputy President. The Assembly was given the right to the vote on Demands for Grants and or reduce or to omit any item of the demands. The right of asking supplementary questions extended to all.The Bicameral Legislature continued till September 4, 1947 when the responsible government was established in Travancore. The new Assembly, the Representative Body was functioned as the Constituent Assembly of Travancore. It had 120 members elected on the basis of adult franchise. The Constituent Assembly held its first sitting on March 20, 1948 and A.J.John was elected as its first President. In that meeting the Constituent Assembly expressed the desire to be invested with powers and functions of a Legislative Assembly and to have a ministry responsible to it. In Accordance with that desire the Travancore Interim Constitution Act, was promulgated on March 24, 1948 with provision for a Council of Ministers headed by a Prime Minister. The Council of Ministers was made collectively responsible to the Assembly and the Maharaja became the constitutional head. Pattom Thanu Pillai became the first Prime Minister of Travancore on March 24, 1948,and ruled till October 22, 1948. Parur T.K. Narayanapillai succeeded him.The Legislative Council of KochiThe Legislative Council was formed in Kochi in 1925 with 45 members, in which 30 were elected members. Voting right was given to landlords, estate owners, merchants and businessmen only. Full freedom of opinion was also granted in the council. In 1935 the powers of the Council were increased. In 1932, the strength of the Council was increased to 36 elected members and 18 nominated members. In 1935 four standing Advisory Committees of the Legislative Council were constituted. In 1938,the system of Diarchy was introduced in Cochin.Ambat Sivarama Menon appointed as Minister for Rural Development. The number of Ministers raised to four and more subjects were transferred. The first popular ministry of Cochin consisting of Panampilly Givonda Menon, C.R.Iyyunni, K.Ayyappan and T.K.Nair assumed office on September 9, 1946. On August 14, 1947 the Maharaja of Cochin announced full responsibility to the government. A Council of Ministers with Panampilly Givinda Menon as Prime Minister assumed office on September 1, 1947 Subsequently a Council of Ministers with T.K.Nair as Prime Minister was formed on October 27,1947 and it continued till September 20, 1948. In 1948, Universal Adult Franchise was introduced and Legislative Council was named as Legislative Assembly. After the general elections a popular ministry headed by Ikkanda Warrier was formed on September 20, 1948 and it remained in office till the integration of Travancore and Cochin on July 1, 1949Democratisation in MalabarMalabar region was a district of the Madras Province in the British rule and continued in the Madras State after independence. The Malabar district was being represented in the Madras Legislative Assembly from 1920’s. In the elections to the Madras Legislature held in 1936, almost all the Congress candidates from Malabar were elected. Kongattil Raman Menon served as a minister in the Rajagopalachari Cabinet during 1937-39. In the first general elections to the Legislative Assembly held in 1951, A total of 29 members were represented in the Madras Legislative Assembly.It was in 1800 AD, that the district of Malabar became a part of the Madras presidency. Major McLeod was the first Principal Collector of Malabar. The Pazhassi revolt gave a push to the construction of roads in the interior areas of Malabar. The spices were cultivated and coffee was introducedfirsttimeinWayanad.The contribution of Malabar to the national movement was noteworthy. The Indian National Congress founded in 1885 had its prototypes in Malabar from early days. A District Congress Committee was formed in Malabar in 1908. A branch of All India Home Rule League also started functioning in the district. From 1916 onwards-political conferences were held in Malabar to bring the grievances of the people to the attention of the government. The most important political movement during this period was the Malabar Rebellion. The announcement of Salt Satyagraha made its impact all over Kerala. In 1930, as a part of Satyagraha, several batches of satyagrahis marched to Payyannur to take part in the struggle. Malabar played an important role in the Second Civil Disobedience Movement. In 1934 Congress Socialist Party formed. An extremist group of nationalist Muslims under the leadership of Muhammed Abdurahiman also came into existence during this period. The emergence of Muslim League in the late thirties was an important factor in Malabar politics. The leftists within the Congress party came out as the Communist party in 1939.When the states of the Indian Union were reorganised on linguistic basis, the Malabar District was added on to Travancore – Cochin to form new state of Kerala on November 1, 1956.First Election After IndependenceOn September 4, 1947 the Maharaja of Thiruvithamcore issued a declaration to elect Constituent Assembly in Travancore as a prelude to adult franchise. The election was held in February 1948. Out of the total 120 seats, the Indian National Congress contested 112 and won 97 seats, The Muslim League secured eight, Tamil Nadu Congress 14 and Independent one. The Communist Party contested 17 seats and the K S P eight, but they could not open an account in the house. On March 20, 1948 the Thiruvithamcore Constituent Assembly came into being, the first of its kind formed on the basis of adult franchise in the country.INTEGRATION OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHINTravancore and Cochin were integrated on July 1, 1949. The Maharaja of Travancore became the Head of Travancore –Cochin. The Legislative Assembly was composed of members from the representative bodies of Travancore and Cochin. The ministers of Travancore and Cochin continued in their respective offices. T.M.Varghese was elected as the speaker. The first meeting was held on July 11, 1949.First General Election in the RepublicThe Constitutional Assembly in the Centre introduced the New Constitution and India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic on January 26, 1950. The first general election was held from December 10, 1951 to January 26, 1952. In Thiru-Kochi, out of the 108 seats, Congress got 44 (three uncontested), Socialists 11 (One uncontested), Communists 25, Revolutionary Socialist Party 6, Thiruvithamcore Tamilnadu Congress (TTNC) 8, K S P and Cochin party one each and the Independents 12. The Communist party was then banned in Thiru-Kochi. On 12th March 1952 a six-member ministry was sworn-in with A J John as Chief Minister. Later one representative of the T T N C also induced into the cabinet following the alliance made with Congress. Due to disagreement between Congress and T T N C, which demanded a separate Congress organisation for Tamils, a confidence motion had rejected by the House. The Assembly was dissolved and the ministry continued as Caretaker Government. Though the Congress government continued as a caretaker but, the verdict of the people was against Congress.By-Elections of 1954The second election to the Thiru -Kochi Assembly was held in February 1954. Following delimitation, the number of constituencies rose to 118. The party position was INC-45, T T N C- 12, P S P-19, Communist party-23, R S P-9, K S P-3,and the Independents-6. Though there was an electoral understanding between the Congress and the P S P the latter refused to support the Congress in forming a ministry. It was the first electoral alliance of political parties in India. The Congress extended support to the P S P to form a cabinet. Four-member cabinet of the P S P with Pattom Thanu Pillai as leader came to power. When the Congress withdrew its support to the P S P ministry, it had to resign. In continuation of this Panampilly Menon of Congress became the Chief Minister. His government too had only a short life. Subsequent to the fall of his ministry, presidential rule was imposed in the state in March 1956. FORMATION OF KERALA STATEFORMATION OF KERALA STATEIt was long cherished dream of Malayalees in the region to have a homeland based on their mother tongue. It was President’s rule in Travancore-Cochin, when the decision to re-organise the states on linguistic basis was taken by the Government of India. Some Tamil speaking taluks were separated from Travancore-Cochin and included in Madras State. Malabar and the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara were added on to Travancore-Cochin to constitute the new state of Kerala. The State of Kerala formally came into existence on November1st1956. Elections to The Kerala Legislative Assembly The Kerala Legislative Assembly is the Supreme law making body of the state. In 1956 when the Kerala State was formed, it was under the presidential administration and there was no legislative assembly in the newly formed state. Following the general election the First Kerala Legislative assembly came into existence on 6th March 1957.The assembly is divided into the ruling party (Treasury bench) and the opposition party (opposition bench). The leader of the majority party would be the Chief Minister. The council of ministers headed by the Chief Minister is called the ministry or cabinet. The executive authority of the government is vested with them and they are responsible to the Assembly.The adoption of the Annual Budget and Finance bill is one of the primary responsibilities of the Assembly. It is the constitutional duty of the assembly to open a debate on the budget as soon as the Finance Minister presents it in the Assembly. It may accord its approval to the statement of income and expenditure for the concerned financial year and to the accompanying financial bill. The Assembly is also empowered to sanction supplementary grants whenever necessary. The Assembly is empowered to discuss any matter of importance to the State and adopt resolutions. It can vote for the election of the President of India and elect the Rajya Sabha members.1 Indian Constitution gives the states and union territories significant control over their own government. The legislative assemblies are directly elected bodies set up to carrying out the administration of the government in the states of India. In some states there is a bicameral organisation of legislatures, with both an upper and Lower House. Elections to assemblies are carried out in the same manner as for the Lok Sabha election, with the states and union territoriesas
posted by Georgekutty Samuel (CHEGU) at Monday, March 13, 2006
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Very good info
give more info.
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