1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election

Indian union territory election

1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election

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| <- 1955 | 11 August 1959 (1959-08-11) | 1964 ->

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All 39 seats to the Puducherry Representative Assembly
20 seats needed for a majority
|  | First party  | Second party

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Leader  | V. Venkatasubba Reddiar | V.Subbiah
Party  | Indian National Congress | People's Front
Leader's seat  | Nettapakkam  | Murungapakkam-Nainar Mandapam
Last election  | 20  | 16
Seats before  | 22  | 12
Seats won  | 21  | 13
Seat change  |  1  |  1
Percentage  | 38.4%  | 31.6%

* * *

| Chief Minister before election

Édouard Goubert
Indian National Congress

| Elected Chief Minister

V. Venkatasubba Reddiar
Indian National Congress

|

After the de facto merger on 1 November 1954 and before the legal integration with the Indian Union on 16 August 1962, second general elections were held in August 1959 to constitute Second Pondicherry Representative Assembly.[1][2]

## Background

[edit]

the Congress, with the support of independents, was able to form a Government after first elections in 1955. However, that government was not stable as the ruling party was ridden with personal strife and factions. The Government of India had to intervene finally by dissolving the Assembly and the Chief Commissioner took over the administration in October 1958.[3] Later, after nine months, second general elections were held to the Pondicherry Representative Assembly in 1959 from 11 to 14 August.

## Results

[edit]

The results of 1959 election were summarized below:[4][5]: 197

| Parties and Coalitions  | Won  | Votes  | Vote %  | Change

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| Indian National Congress | 21  | 60,636  | 38.4  | 1
| People's Front[note 1] | 13  | 49,505  | 31.6  | 1
| Independents and others[note 2] | 5  | 47,162  | 30  |
| TOTAL  | 39  | 1,57,030  | 100  | N.A.

Another reference with some change in voteshare were summarized below:[3]

| Parties and Coalitions  | Won  | Votes  | Vote %  | Change

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|
|
|
|

| Indian National Congress | 21  | 64,000  | 41.1  | 1
| People's Front[note 3] | 13  | 53,800  | 34.3  | 1
| Independents and others[note 4] | 5  | 38,600  | 24.6  |
| TOTAL  | 39  | 1,57,000  | 100  | N.A.

However, during 1963, the state of parties in the Representative Assembly was: Congress, 24; People's Front (Makkaḷ Munnaṇi (Tamil:மக்கள் முன்னணி)), 12; Praja Socialist Party, 1; Independents, 2.[7]: 475

## Members of the 1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly

[edit]

Members of the 1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly  S. No | Name | Constituency | Region | Party

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1  | Kamisetty Savithri | Anakalapettai[note 5] | Yanam  | Ind.[note 6]
2  | Kamisetty Parasuram Naidu | Andhrapettai[note 7] | Yanam  | Ind.
3  | P.C. Purushottam Rettiar  | Archivak–Tavalacoupom  | Pondicherry  | Congress
4  | K.Ramanujam  | Ariankuppam  | Pondicherry  | P.F.[note 8]
5  | K. Subrahmania Padayachi  | Bahour  | Pondicherry  | Congress
6  | M.M.Hussein  | Bussy Street  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
7  | Annamalai Naicker  | Embaralam-Kalamandapam  | Pondicherry  | Congress
8  | S. Somasundara Chettiar  | Kalapet  | Pondicherry  | Congress
9  | Mohamed Ismail Maricar  | Karikal North  | Karikal  | Congress
10  | K.E.M. Mohamed Ibrahim Maricar  | Karikal Central  | Karikal  | Ind.
11  | K.V. Prosper  | Karikal South  | Karikal  | Congress
12  | K.S.Govindaraj  | Karaikovil Pathu  | Karikal  | Congress
13  | Smt. Saraswathi Subbiah  | Kasikaddai  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
14  | P.C. Murugaswamy Clemenceau  | Kurichikuppam  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
15  | R.L. Purushottam Reddiar  | Kuruvinattam-Kariambuttur  | Pondicherry  | Congress
16  | V.Ramaswamy Pillai  | Madhakovil  | Karikal  | Congress
17  | C. E. Barathan  | Mahe Town  | Mahe  | Congress
18  | Édouard Goubert | Mannadipet  | Pondicherry  | Congress `
19  | V.Subbaiah | Murungapakkam-Nainar Mandapam  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
20  | P. Abraham  | Muthialpet  | Pondicherry  | Congress
21  | P. Shanmugam  | Nedungadu  | Karikal  | Congress
22  | N. Govindaraju  | Nellitope Town  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
23  | D. Rathinasabapathy Pillai  | Neravy  | Karikal  | Congress
24  | Venkatasubba Reddiar  | Nettapakkam  | Pondicherry  | Congress
25  | N. Guruswamy  | Oulgaret  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
26  | R. Vaithilingam  | Ooppalaom  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
27  | R. Pakir Mohammed  | Oossetteri  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
28  | P.K.Raman  | Palloor  | Mahe  | P.S.P.
29  | V.N.Purushottama  | Panthakkal  | Mahe  | Congress
30  | A. S. Gangeyan  | Rajbhavan  | Pondicherry  | Congress
31  | V.Narayanaswamy  | Reddiarpalayam Town  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
32  | P.Narayana Swamy  | Saram and Lawspet  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
33  | S. Natarajan  | Sellipet-Souttoukeny  | Pondicherry  | P.F.
34  | K. M. Guruswamy Pillai  | Thirumeni Alagar  | Karikal  | Congress
35  | V. M. C. Varada Pillai  | Thirumalayapattinam North  | Karikal  | Congress
36  | Nagamuthu Pillai  | Thirumalarayanpattinam South  | Karikal  | Congress
37  | Subbarayulu Naicker  | Tirunalar-Badrakaliamman Kovil  | Karikal  | Congress
38  | Soundarassamy  | Tirunalar-Darbaranyeswarar Koil  | Karikal  | Ind.
39  | M. Chidambaram  | Villenour  | Pondicherry  | P.F.

## Council of ministers of Reddiar (1959-1963)

[edit]

Under supervision of then chief commissioner L.R.S Singh a Council of ministers was formed under leadership of V. Venkatasubba Reddiar:[8] on 9 September 1959.[9]: 966 President of the assembly that is equivalent to speaker was A. S. Gangeyan.[7]: 475

Minister  | Portfolio

|

V. Venkatasubba Reddiar
Chief minister | Public Works, Electrical, Fisheries and Port
Édouard Goubert | Finance, Labour and Industries
C. E. Barathan  | Local Administration, Education and Transport
Gouroussamy Pillai
Revenue minister | Revenue, Veterinary and Information
P. Shanmugam
Agriculture minister | Agriculture, Rural Development and Harijan Welfare
Mohamed Ismail Maricar
Health minister | Health, Hygiene and Co-operation

## Council of ministers of Goubert (1963-1964)

[edit]

The French settlements of India were de jure transferred on 16 August 1962. Pondicherry Representative Assembly functioned until June 30, 1963, and succeeded by Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The Indian Parliament enacted the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 that came into force on 1 July 1963, and the pattern of Government prevailing in the rest of the country was introduced in this territory also, but subject to certain limitations.[10] Edouard Goubert became the chief minister in the subsequent Pondicherry Legislative Assembly.

In the First Legislative Assembly of Pondicherry, under supervision of then chief commissioner S.K. Datta a Council of ministers was formed under leadership of Édouard Goubert:[11] on 1 July 1963.[9] Speaker was A. S. Gangeyan.

Minister  | Portfolio

|

Édouard Goubert
Chief Minister | Confidential and Cabinet Department, Home Department, Appointments Department, General Administration Department (except Information, Publicity and Government Press,) Education Department, Legislative and Judicial Department, Industries Department, Finance Department and any other business not allocated to any other Minister
V. Venkatasubba Reddiar
Development minister | Five Year Plans-Planning, Implementation and Evaluation, Public Works Department, Electricity, Fisheries, Port, Government Press and Statistics
Gouroussamy Pillai
Revenue minister | Revenue Department, Animal Husbandry, Information and Publicity Department
Mohamed Ismail Maricar
Health minister | Medical and Public Health Department, Co-operation and Town Planning
M.K.Zeevaratnam  | Local Administration Department, Labour Department, Social, Child and Women's Welfare
V.M.C. Varada Pillay

Agriculture minister | Agriculture, Community Development and Local Development Works

## Trivia

[edit]

In Yanam, for Kanakalapeta constituency, two independents[note 9] secured exactly 707 votes each and so to decide the winner, lots were cast. Finally, Kamichetty Savithri was declared winner.[note 10] In the same constituency, Congress candidate polled only 8 votes.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* India portal
* Politics portal

* Puducherry Legislative Assembly
* 1946 French India Representative Assembly election
* 1951 French India Representative Assembly election
* 1955 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election
* Elections in Puducherry

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "India, A Reference Annual 1956". Publications Division. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1956. p. 494.
2. ^ G.C.Malhotra (1964). Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature. Metropolitan Book Co. Pvt. Ltd. p. 464\. ISBN 9788120004009. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
3. ^ a b K. K., Rajagopalan (September 12, 1959). "Pondicherry Assembly Elections An Analysis" (PDF). The Economic Weekly. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
4. ^ A.M.Zaidi (1990). The Story of Congress Pilgrimage: 1964-1970. Vol. 6\. Indian Institute of Applied Political Research, New Delhi. p. 38\. ISBN 9788185355528.
5. ^ S. Steinberg (1960). The Statesman's Year-Book 1960: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations. MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London. ISBN 9780230270893. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
6. ^ a b Rajagopalan, K. K. (12 September 1959). "Pondicherry Assembly Elections : An Analysis" (PDF) (PDF). The Economic Weekly. p. 1269. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
7. ^ a b S. Steinberg (1963). The Statesman's Year-Book 1963: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations. MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London. ISBN 9780230270923. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
8. ^ "India A Reference Annual 1962". Publications Division. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1962. p. 499.
9. ^ a b G. C. Malhotra (2004). Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature. Lok Sabha Secretariat. ISBN 9788120004009.
10. ^ "The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
11. ^ Ajaib Singh, Bureau of Statistics (1963). "The Union Territory of Pondicherry, Maps & Charts" (PDF). Government of Pondicherry.
12. ^ Rajagopalan, K (12 September 1959). "Pondicherry Assembly Elections" (PDF). Economic and Political Weekly (37).

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Thirty-four Communist candidates stood under the banner of the People's Front.[6]
2. ^ i.e. Praja Socialist Party
3. ^ Thirty-four Communist candidates stood under the banner of the People's Front.[6]
4. ^ i.e. Praja Socialist Party
5. ^ i.e. Kanakalapeta constituency
6. ^ i.e. Independent
7. ^ i.e. Adi Andhrapeta constituency
8. ^ i.e. People's Front
9. ^ Kamichetty Savithri and Yerra Jagannadha Rao
10. ^ There was a rumour that on both of lots the name of Kamichetty Savithri was written. Thus ensuring her victory.

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