1957 Kerala Legislative Assembly election

* * *

| <- 1954
(Travancore–Cochin)
← 1952
(Madras) | 28 February – 11 March 1957 | 1960 ->

|
|

* * *

All 126 seats in the Kerala Legislative Assembly
64 seats needed for a majority
Turnout| 65.49%
|  | First party  | Second party

|
|

|  |
Leader  | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | P. T. Chacko
Party  | CPI | INC
Leader's seat  | Nileshwaram | Vazhoor
Seats won  | 60  | 43
Popular vote  | 20,59,547  | 22,09,251
Percentage  | 35.28%  | 37.85%

* * *

| Chief Minister before election

Position established

| Chief Minister

E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Communist Party of India

|

The Kerala Legislative Assembly election of 1957 was the first assembly election in the Indian state of Kerala. The Communist Party of India won the election with 60 seats. The election led to the formation of first democratically elected communist government in India.[1] The election also made Kerala as the first state to elect a Non-Congress party in the country.[2]

## State reorganisation

[edit]

On 1 November 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, Kerala was formed by the merger of Travancore-Cochin state with the Malabar district (including Fort Cochin and the Laccadive Islands) of Madras State, Kasaragod taluk of the South Canara district and the Amindive Islands. The southern part of Travancore-Cochin, the five taluks of Agastheeswaram, Thovala, Kalkulam, Vilavahcode, and Shencotta, were transferred from Travancore-Cochin to the Madras State.[3] After the reorganization, the assembly constituencies increased from 106 with 117 seats in 1954 to 114 with 126 seats in 1957.

## Background

[edit]

Following the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Malabar District of Madras state merged with Travancore-Cochin to form the new state of Kerala on 1 November 1956. The merger helped the Communist Party of India to increase their base in the region.[4] The ruling Indian National Congress lost the prominence due to the factionalism within the party.[citation needed] Furthermore, communalism and struggles against feudalism played a major role.[4][5]

## Election

[edit]

The Election Commission of India conducted elections to the newly created state between 28 February – 11 March 1957.[6] The elections were held to the 126 seats (114 constituencies) including 12 two member constituencies of which 11 and one reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively, in which 406 candidates were contested. The voter turnout was 65.49%.[7]

## Results

[edit]

The result of the elections listed below:

Summary of results of the 1957 Kerala Legislative Assembly election[8]

Party | Flag | Seats
Contested | Won | % of
Seats  | Votes | Vote % | Vote % in
contested seats
| Indian National Congress |  | 124 | 43 | 34.13 | 2,209,251 | 37.85 | 38.1
| Communist Party of India |  | 101 | 60 | 47.62 | 2,059,547 | 35.28 | 40.57
| Praja Socialist Party |  | 65 | 9 | 7.14 | 628,261 | 10.76 | 17.48
| Revolutionary Socialist Party |  | 28 | 0 |  | 188,553 | 3.23 | 11.12
| Independent politician |  | 86 | 14 | 11.11 | 751,965 | 12.88 | N/A
| Total seats | 126 | Voters | 89,13,247 | Turnout | 58,37,577 (65.49%)

In the election, five women candidates were elected out of nine candidates.[7][9]

### By Constituency

[edit]

Assembly Constituency  | Winner  | Runner

|
|

No.  | Constituency Name  | Category  | Name  | Party  | Vote  | Name  | Party  | Vote
1 | Parassala | GEN | Kunjukrishnan Nadar M. |  | INC | 16,742 | Krishna Pillai K |  | PSP | 8,338
2 | Neyyattinkara | GEN | Janardhanan Nair O. |  | CPI | 18,812 | Krishna Pillai N. K. |  | PSP | 16,558
3 | Vilappil | GEN | Sreedhar G. Ponnara |  | PSP | 18,221 | Surendranath K. V. |  | CPI | 14,278
4 | Nemom | GEN | Sadasivan A. |  | CPI | 15,998 | Viswambharan P. |  | PSP | 14,159
5 | Trivandrum I | GEN | Eapan E. P. |  | PSP | 15,466 | Krishnan Nair K. |  | Independent | 13,418
6 | Trivandrum II | GEN | Thanu Pillai A. |  | PSP | 21,816 | Anirudhan K. |  | CPI | 17,082
7 | Ullur | GEN | Sreedharan V. |  | CPI | 16,904 | Alikunju Sastri M. |  | PSP | 14,182
8 | Arianad | GEN | Balakrishna Pillai R. |  | CPI | 16,728 | Kesavan Nair R. |  | INC | 6,987
9 | Nedumangad | GEN | Neelakandaru Pandarathil N. |  | CPI | 20,553 | Somasekharan Nair K |  | PSP | 7,888
10 | Attingal | GEN | Prakasam R. |  | CPI | 24,328 | Gopala Pillai |  | PSP | 11,151
11 | Varkala | (SC) | Abdul Majeed T. A. |  | CPI | 41,683 | Sivadasan K. |  | CPI | 31,454
12 | Eravipuram | GEN | Raveendran |  | CPI | 19,122 | Kunju Sankara Pillai V. |  | PSP | 8,762
13 | Quilon | GEN | A. A. Rahim |  | INC | 20,367 | Divakaran T. K |  | RSP | 12,571
14 | Thrikkadavur | (SC) | Karunakaran K. |  | CPI | 33,782 | T. Krishnan |  | INC | 32,596
15 | Karunagappally | GEN | Kunjukrishnan P. |  | INC | 13,709 | P. K. Kunju |  | PSP | 13,063
16 | Krishnapuram | GEN | Karthikeyan G. |  | CPI | 23,963 | Sekhara Panicker K. |  | INC | 14,493
17 | Kayamkulam | GEN | Aysha Bai K. O. |  | CPI | 27,067 | Sarojini |  | INC | 13,138
18 | Karthigapally | GEN | Sugathan R. |  | CPI | 20,978 | Velu Pillai G. |  | INC | 14,887
19 | Haripad | GEN | Ramakrishna Pillai V. |  | Independent | 20,184 | K. Balagangadharan |  | INC | 15,812
20 | Mavelikara | GEN | Kunjachan P. K. |  | CPI | 44,630 | K. C. George |  | CPI | 39,617
21 | Kunnathur | (SC) | Madhavan Pillai P. R. |  | CPI | 41,569 | Govindan R. |  | CPI | 37,321
22 | Kottarakkara | (SC) | Chandrasekharan Nair E. |  | CPI | 23,298 | Ramachandran Nair K. |  | INC | 14,307
23 | Chadayamangalam | GEN | Bhargavan K. |  | CPI | 19,375 | Abdul Majeed M. |  | PSP | 9,143
24 | Pathanapuram | GEN | Rajagopalan Nair |  | CPI | 24,499 | Kuttan Pillai K. |  | INC | 14,440
25 | Punalur | GEN | Gopalan P. |  | CPI | 20,455 | Kunjuraman Assan K. |  | INC | 16,366
26 | Ranni | GEN | Idicula |  | INC | 23,308 | Thomas Mathew |  | Independent | 20,722
27 | Pathanamthitta | GEN | Bhaskara Pillai P. |  | CPI | 29,001 | Chacko (Geevarghese) N. G. |  | INC | 21,353
28 | Aranmula | GEN | Gopinathan Pillai K. |  | INC | 18,895 | Vasudevan N. C. |  | CPI | 18,630
29 | Kallooppara | GEN | M. M. Mathai |  | INC | 17,874 | N. T. George |  | CPI | 10,843
30 | Thiruvalla | GEN | G. Padmanabhan Thampi |  | CPI | 22,978 | Kuruvila Thomas T. |  | INC | 20,347
31 | Chengannur | GEN | Sankaranarayanan Thampi R. |  | CPI | 19,538 | Saraswathi Amma K. |  | INC | 13,546
32 | Alleppey | GEN | Thomas T. V. |  | CPI | 26,542 | Nafeesa Beevi A. |  | INC | 22,278
33 | Mararikulam | GEN | Sadasivan C. G. |  | CPI | 28,153 | Joseph Mathen |  | INC | 18,350
34 | Sherthala | GEN | K. R. Gouri |  | CPI | 26,088 | A. Subramonian Pillai |  | INC | 22,756
35 | Aroor | GEN | P. S. Karthikeyan |  | INC | 23,956 | Avira Tharakan |  | Independent | 22,296
36 | Thakazhi | GEN | Thomas John |  | INC | 21,940 | Varghese Vaidlian T. K. |  | CPI | 16,480
37 | Changanacherry | GEN | Kalyanakrishnan Nair M. |  | CPI | 22,539 | Raghavan Pillai P. |  | INC | 19,693
38 | Vazhoor | GEN | Chacko P. T. |  | INC | 20,102 | Raghava Kurup N. |  | CPI | 20,022
39 | Kanjirappally | GEN | Thomas K. T. |  | INC | 14,896 | Joseph |  | PSP | 12,893
40 | Puthuppally | GEN | P. C. Cherian |  | INC | 20,396 | George E. M. |  | CPI | 19,000
41 | Kottayam | GEN | Bhaskaran Nair P. |  | CPI | 23,021 | Govindhan Nair M. P. |  | INC | 20,750
42 | Ettumanoor | GEN | Joseph George |  | INC | 21,423 | Gopala Pillai C. S. |  | CPI | 19,930
43 | Meenachil | GEN | Joseph P. M. |  | INC | 20,126 | Thomas Mathai |  | Independent | 13,462
44 | Vaikom | GEN | K. R. Narayanan |  | INC | 25,818 | C. K. Viswanathan |  | CPI | 25,164
45 | Kaduthuruthy | GEN | M. C. Abraham |  | INC | 22,365 | Kurian Kurian |  | Independent | 13,552
46 | Ramamangalam | GEN | E. P. Poulose |  | INC | 20,086 | Parameswaran Nair |  | CPI | 13,588
47 | Muvattupuzha | GEN | K. M. George |  | INC | 16,820 | Kuruvilla Mattai (Mathew) |  | CPI | 14,993
48 | Devicolam | (SC) | Rosamma Punnose |  | CPI | 33,809 | Ganapathy N. |  | INC | 31,887
| Bye Polls in 1958 | Bye Polls in 1958 | R. Punnose |  | COM | 55,819 | B. Nair |  | INC | 48,730
49 | Thodupuzha | GEN | Mathew C. A. |  | INC | 22,149 | Narayanan Nair K |  | CPI | 11,680
50 | Karikode | GEN | Kusuman Joseph |  | INC | 14,669 | Augustine Ouseph |  | Independent | 12,084
51 | Poonjar | GEN | Thomman T. A. |  | INC | 21,279 | Chacko Vallikkappan (Jocob) |  | CPI | 9,045
52 | Puliyannur | GEN | K. M. Joseph Chazhicatt |  | PSP | 18,605 | Prof.K.MChandy |  | INC | 17,915
53 | Palluruthy | GEN | Alexander Parambithar |  | INC | 23,666 | Gangadharan P. |  | CPI | 19,848
54 | Mattancherry | GEN | Viswanathan K. K. |  | INC | 19,106 | Aboo T. M |  | CPI | 13,046
55 | Narakkal | GEN | K. C. Abraham |  | INC | 24,253 | K. K. Ramakrishnan |  | CPI | 22,321
56 | Ernakulam | GEN | Jacob A. L. |  | INC | 23,857 | V. Ramankutty Menon |  | CPI | 18,172
57 | Kanayannur | GEN | Ramakrishnan T. K. |  | CPI | 21,292 | Joseph A. V. |  | INC | 17,506
58 | Alwaye | GEN | T. O. Bava |  | INC | 23,707 | Varkey M. C. |  | Independent | 21,142
59 | Perumbavoor | GEN | Govinda Pillai P. |  | CPI | 21,679 | K. A. Damodara Menon |  | INC | 20,780
60 | Kothakulangara | GEN | Anthony M. A. |  | INC | 24,133 | A. P. Kurian |  | CPI | 15,246
61 | Parur | GEN | Sivan Pillai N. |  | CPI | 19,997 | K. I. Mathew |  | INC | 17,909
62 | Vadakkekara | GEN | Balan K. A. |  | CPI | 23,385 | Vijayan K. R. |  | INC | 17,844
63 | Cranganore | GEN | E. Gopalakrishna Menon |  | CPI | 20,385 | Kunju Moideen A. K. |  | INC | 18,894
64 | Chalakkudy | (SC) | P. K. Chathan |  | CPI | 43,454 | C. J. Jenardhanan |  | PSP | 42,997
65 | Irinjalakuda | GEN | Achutha Menon C. |  | CPI | 24,140 | K. T. Achuthan |  | INC | 21,480
66 | Manalur | GEN | Mundassery Joseph |  | CPI | 23,350 | Sukumaran |  | INC | 21,355
67 | Trichur | GEN | A. R. Menon |  | Independent | 23,531 | Karunakaran K. |  | INC | 21,045
68 | Ollur | GEN | Paranchu R. |  | INC | 15,994 | Raghavan V. |  | CPI | 15,915
69 | Kunnamkulam | GEN | Krishnan T. K. |  | CPI | 21,161 | Velayudhan K. I. |  | INC | 18,788
70 | Wadakkanchery | (SC) | Ayyappan C. C. |  | CPI | 33,161 | Kochukuttan K |  | INC | 28,895
71 | Nattika | GEN | Achuthan K. S. |  | INC | 23,594 | Gopalakrishnan P. K. |  | CPI | 22,039
72 | Guruvayoor | GEN | Koru Kooliyat |  | Independent | 16,722 | Abubaker M. V. |  | INC | 14,087
73 | Andathodu | GEN | Kolady Govindan Kutty Menon |  | CPI | 14,229 | Karunakara Menon K. G. |  | INC | 12,495
74 | Ponnani | (SC) | Kunhambu Kallayan |  | INC | 22,784 | Kunhan Eliyath Tharayil |  | CPI | 20,535
75 | Kuzhalmannam | GEN | John Kuduvakkotte |  | Independent | 19,437 | Kesava Menon T.P. |  | INC | 14,689
76 | Alathur | GEN | Krishnan R. |  | CPI | 19,203 | Vaitheeswara Iyer P. S. |  | INC | 13,317
77 | Chittur | (SC) | Balachandra Menon P. |  | CPI | 23,995 | Eacharan K. |  | INC | 22,062
78 | Elapully | GEN | Ramankutty A. K. |  | CPI | 16,768 | Sankaran C. C. |  | INC | 11,560
79 | Palghat | GEN | Raghava Menon R. |  | INC | 14,873 | Kunhiraman M. P. |  | CPI | 14,248
80 | Parli | GEN | Narayanakutty C. K. |  | CPI | 21,627 | Gopalakrishnan Nair K. |  | INC | 13,996
81 | Mannarghat | GEN | Krishna Menon K. |  | CPI | 13,375 | Kochunny Nair K. C. |  | INC | 9,665
82 | Perinthalmanna | GEN | Govindan Nambiar |  | CPI | 13,248 | Pookoya Thangal Haji P. V. |  | Independent | 9,398
83 | Ottapalam | GEN | Kunhunni Nayar |  | CPI | 16,157 | Sundara Iyer N. |  | INC | 15,248
84 | Pattambi | GEN | Gopalan Erasseri Patinharethil |  | CPI | 17,447 | Padamanabha Menon K. P. |  | INC | 9,793
85 | Mankada | GEN | Mohammad Kodur Valia Peedikakkal |  | Independent | 11,854 | Mohammad Malavattath |  | INC | 8,338
86 | Tirur | GEN | Moideenkutty Hajee K. |  | Independent | 15,404 | Alikutty P. P. |  | INC | 13,231
87 | Tanur | GEN | Muhammed Koya C. H. |  | Independent | 16,787 | Assanar Kutty T. |  | INC | 11,520
88 | Kuttippuram | GEN | Ahamedkutty C. |  | Independent | 15,495 | Moideenkutty P. K. |  | INC | 10,424
89 | Thirurangady | GEN | Ayukkadarkutty Nahak |  | Independent | 17,622 | Kunhalikutty Haji A. |  | INC | 16,670
90 | Malappuram | GEN | Hassan Gani K. |  | Independent | 17,214 | Saidalavi P. |  | INC | 12,243
91 | Manjeri | (SC) | Ummer Koya P. P. |  | INC | 30,860 | Chadayan M. |  | Independent | 29,101
92 | Kondotty | GEN | Ahammad Kurikkal M. P. M. |  | Independent | 18,981 | Abubakar Kolakadan |  | INC | 11,866
93 | Kozhikode I | GEN | Sarada Krishnan |  | INC | 17,388 | Manjunatha Rao H. |  | CPI | 16,079
94 | Kozhikode I I | GEN | Kumaran P. |  | INC | 18,586 | E. Janardhanan |  | Independent | 11,211
95 | Chevayur | GEN | Balagopalan A. |  | INC | 20,683 | Raghavan Nair |  | CPI | 17,319
96 | Kunnamangalam | GEN | Leela Damodara Menon |  | INC | 13,598 | Chathunni Ottayil K. |  | CPI | 11,814
97 | Koduvally | GEN | Gopalankutty Nair M. |  | INC | 19,377 | Muhammedkutty C. |  | Independent | 15,950
98 | Balusseri | GEN | Narayana Kurup M. |  | PSP | 15,789 | Raghavan Nair E. |  | INC | 11,536
99 | Quilandy | GEN | Kunhiraman Nambiar |  | PSP | 19,668 | Achuthan Nair P. |  | INC | 16,622
100 | Perambra | GEN | Kumaran Madathil |  | CPI | 17,838 | Madhavan Nair T K. |  | INC | 15,827
101 | Badagara | GEN | Kelu Mandoti Kuniyil |  | CPI | 17,123 | Krishnan |  | PSP | 15,448
102 | Nadapuram | GEN | Kanaran C. H. |  | CPI | 18,533 | Kunhammad Haji V. K. |  | INC | 15,177
103 | Wynad | (SC) | Kunjikrishnan Nair N. K. |  | INC | 31,993 | Madura |  | INC | 29,296
104 | Kuthuparamba | GEN | Ramunny Kurup |  | PSP | 21,540 | Madhavan P. K. |  | CPI | 14,858
105 | Mattannur | GEN | Balaram N. E. |  | CPI | 23,540 | Kunhiraman Nair |  | INC | 13,089
106 | Tellicherry | GEN | Krishna Iyer V. R. |  | Independent | 27,318 | Kunhiraman P. |  | INC | 15,234
107 | Cannanore I | GEN | Kannan Chaliyoth |  | CPI | 17,464 | Gopalan Othayoth |  | INC | 17,413
108 | Cannanore II | GEN | Gopalan K. P. |  | CPI | 21,493 | Madhavan Pamban |  | INC | 18,776
109 | Madayi | GEN | Gopalan Nambiar K. P. R. |  | CPI | 24,390 | T. Narayanan Nambiar |  | INC | 12,169
110 | Rikkur | GEN | Narayanan Nambiar T. C. |  | CPI | 24,518 | Narayanan Nambissan |  | INC | 11,052
111 | Nileswar | (SC) | Kallalan |  | CPI | 44,754 | Namboodiripad E. M. S. |  | CPI | 38,090
112 | Hosdrug | GEN | Chandraskharan K. |  | PSP | 14,150 | Madhavan K. |  | CPI | 11,209
113 | Kasaragod | GEN | Kunhikrishan Nair Cheripady |  | INC | 10,290 | Narayanan Nambiar |  | PSP | 10,096
114 | Manjeshwar | GEN | M. Umesh Rao |  | Independent | Uncontested

[10]

## Government formation

[edit]

Communist Party of India formed the government with the support of five independents.[11] On 5 April 1957, E. M. S. Namboodiripad became the chief minister of Kerala and first non–Congress chief minister of the country (PSP ruled Travencore Cochin state before). But the government was dismissed in 1959 by the central government following the Liberation Struggle.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* First Namboodiripad ministry
* 1957 elections in India
* 1954 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election

## References

[edit]

1. ^ James Manor (1994). Nehru to the Nineties: The Changing Office of Prime Minister in India. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. p. 210\. ISBN 978-1-85065-180-2.
2. ^ James Manor (1994). Nehru to the Nineties: The Changing Office of Prime Minister in India. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. p. 210\. ISBN 978-1-85065-180-2.
3. ^ "Reorganisation of States - The Approach and Arrangements" (PDF). The Economic Weekly. 7 (42). 15 October 1955. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
4. ^ a b P Radhakrishnan. Peasant Struggles, Land Reforms and Social Change: Malabar 1836–1982. Radhakrishnan. p. 71\. ISBN 978-1-906083-16-8.
5. ^ Communal Road to a Secular Kerala. Concept Publishing Company. 1 January 1989. p. 145\. ISBN 978-81-7022-282-8.
6. ^ "History of Kerala Legislature". kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
7. ^ a b "Key highlights of General election, 1957 to the legislative assembly of Kerala" (pdf). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
8. ^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1957 : To the Legislative Assembly of Kerala". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
9. ^ "Only 7 women make it to Kerala state Assembly". Economic Times. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
10. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results in 1957". www.elections.in. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
11. ^ Thomas Johnson Nossiter (1 January 1982). Communism in Kerala: A Study in Political Adaptation. University of California Press. pp. 122–123. ISBN 978-0-520-04667-2.
12. ^ "Fresh light on 'Liberation Struggle'". The Hindu. 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2014.

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