Report on the First General Elections in India 1951–52 . By the Election Commission, India. New Delhi: Government of India Press, 1955. 2 vols., 249, 889.

Abstract

Report on the First General Elections in India 1951-52. By the ELECTION COMMISSION, INDIA. New Delhi: Government of India Press, 1955. 2 vols., 249, 889. This long-awaited Report is similar in its thoroughness to the arrangements made by the Election Commission for the conduct of India's first general elections. Volume I contains a review of the election machinery including criticisms and recommendations for change. In addition there is an informative section of the role of political parties, the press and government servants in the electoral process. Included also are several excellent maps, both of India and of the individual states, which show the distribution of seats won by the various parties. Volume II contains detailed election tables giving all candidates and votes polled by constituency for all elective offices. In addition, data is given for all bye-elections held prior to October 31,1953, a date which excludes the complete re-elections of legislative assemblies in Travancore-Cochin, Patiala and East Punjab States Union, and Andhra. This document under review is the Government of India's report detailing the manner in which 51.15% of India's vast electorate of 173,213,635 voters went to the polls. Even the conventional style of presentation cannot conceal the excitement of this experiment in democratic procedures: