Question

Consider the following statements about the first Lok Sabha elections:

1. The first Lok Sabha elections were held between October 25, 1951, and February 21, 1952.

2. The first person to vote in the Lok Sabha elections was Shyam Sharan Negi.

3. The Congress party won 489 seats in the first Lok Sabha elections.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 and 2 only

First Lok Sabha Elections (1951-1952)

• The first general elections to the Lok Sabha in independent India were indeed conducted in phases, starting from October 25, 1951, and concluding on February 21, 1952. This extended period was necessary due to the vast geographical spread and logistical challenges of the newly independent nation.

• These elections were a monumental undertaking, marking India's commitment to democratic principles shortly after gaining independence. They involved a staggering 17.3 crore eligible voters.

Shyam Saran Negi: India's First Voter

• Shyam Saran Negi, a school teacher from Kalpa in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, cast the first vote in the 1951-52 general elections.

• Due to heavy snowfall expected in the Kinnaur region, polling for this area was held on October 25, 1951, a few months earlier than the rest of the country. This made Negi historically the first to exercise his franchise in an Indian general election.

• Negi continued to vote in every Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and local body election until his demise in 2022, becoming an icon of democratic participation.

Election Results and Political Landscape

• The first Lok Sabha elections were contested for 489 seats across 401 constituencies. Some constituencies were two-member or even three-member, a system later abolished in 1961.

• The Indian National Congress (INC), under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, achieved a landslide victory, securing 364 seats. This constituted nearly three-quarters of the total seats and 45% of the total votes polled.

• The Communist Party of India (CPI) emerged as the second-largest party, winning 16 seats, followed by the Socialist Party with 12 seats and the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP) with 9 seats.

• Jawaharlal Nehru became the first elected Prime Minister of India following these elections.

• The first Lok Sabha was constituted on April 17, 1952, and its first session commenced on May 13, 1952