Composition of the Constituent Assembly
Context:
Formed in November 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan to
draft India’s Constitution.
Structure
- Total Members: 389
- 296 seats for British India (11
provinces + 4 Chief Commissioners’ areas).
- 93 seats for princely states (but
they boycotted, so these seats stayed empty).
- Community Representation:
- Seats in British India divided among:
- Muslims, Sikhs, and General (Hindus
& others).
- Based on population ratio (1 seat
≈ 1 million people).
- Election Process:
- Indirect election: Members chosen by provincial
assemblies (not directly by the public).
- Voting method: Proportional Representation
+ Single Transferable Vote (like ranking candidates).
- Princely States:
- Representatives to be nominated by rulers,
but most states refused to join initially.
Election Results (July-August
1946)
- Indian National Congress: 208 seats
(majority).
- Muslim League: 73 seats (demanded Pakistan).
- Others: 15 seats (independents/small groups).
Diversity in the Assembly
- Included leaders from all communities:
- Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis,
Anglo-Indians.
- SCs/STs, women (e.g.,
Sarojini Naidu, Vijayalakshmi Pandit).
- Missing: Mahatma Gandhi (he chose
not to join).
Key Notes
- Not directly elected: Members came from
provincial assemblies (elected by limited voters).
- Inclusive: Despite flaws, it represented
India’s social, religious, and regional diversity.
- Princely states later joined after
independence (1947).
Why Important?
- Laid the foundation for India’s democratic
Constitution.
- Showed unity in diversity, even during Partition
tensions.
Simplified Summary:
- 389 members planned, but only 296 from British
India participated.
- Congress dominated, Muslim League opposed.
- Diverse group wrote the Constitution, except
Gandhi.