1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election

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1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election

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| <- 1957 | 1 February 1960 | 1965 ->

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All 126 seats in the Kerala Legislative Assembly
64 seats needed for a majority
Turnout| 85.72% (20.23)
|  | First party  | Second party

|
|

|  |
Leader  | Pattom A. Thanu Pillai | E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Party  | PSP | CPI
Alliance  | With INC & IUML |
Leader's seat  | Trivandrum | Pattambi
Last election  | 9  | 60
Seats won  | 95 (20 PSP +63 INC+ +11 ML +1 IND)  | 29
Seat change  | 11  | 31
Popular vote  | 2,789,556  | 3,171,732
Percentage  | 34.42%  | 39.14%
Swing  | 3.43%  | 3.86%

* * *

| Chief Minister before election

Vacant
President's rule

| Chief Minister

Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
PSP

|

The Kerala Legislative Assembly election of 1960 was the second assembly election in the Indian state of Kerala. The elections were held on 1 February 1960.[1]

## Background[edit]

In the 1957 elections in Kerala, the Communist Party of India formed the government with the support of five independents.[2] But in 1959, the Central Government dismissed the democratically elected government through the controversial Article 356 of the Indian Constitution following "The Liberation Struggle",[3][4] even though the elected communist government was enjoying majority support within the legislature.[5] After a short period of the President's rule, fresh elections were called in 1960.

## Constituencies[edit]

There were 114 legislative assembly constituencies in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, 1957. Out of these 102 were single-member constituencies while the number of double-member constituencies was 12. One constituency was reserved for Schedule Caste. There were 64,77,665 electors in single-member constituencies, while in double-member constituencies there were 15,63,333 electors. Total 312 candidates contested for the 126 seats of the 114 constituencies in the Assembly.[6] Poll percentage was 85.72%, an increase of 20.23% from 65.49% in 1957 assembly elections.

## Political parties[edit]

Four national parties, Communist Party of India, Indian National Congress, Praja Socialist Party and Bharatiya Jana Sangha along with the state party Muslim League took part in the assembly election.[6] In these elections, the Indian National Congress, Praja Socialist Party, and Indian Union Muslim League formed a pre-poll alliance to counter the Communist Party of India.[1] Together they fielded 125 candidates and supported an independent candidate, while the Communist Party of India fielded 108 candidates and gave party support to 16 independents.[1]

## Results[edit]

Summary of results of the 1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election[6][7]

Political Party | Flag | Seats
Contested | Won | Net Change
in seats | % of
Seats  | Votes | Vote % | Change in
vote % | Vote % in
contested seats
| Bharatiya Jana Sangh |  | 3 | 0 | New | 0 | 5,277 | 0.07 | New | 3.28
| Communist Party of India |  | 108 | 29 |  31 | 23.02 | 3,171,732 | 39.14 |  3.86 | 43.79
| Indian National Congress |  | 80 | 63 |  20 | 50.00 | 2,789,556 | 34.42 |  3.43 | 45.37
| Praja Socialist Party |  | 33 | 20 |  11 | 15.87 | 1,146,028 | 14.14 |  3.38 | 38.41
| IUML |  | 12 | 11 | New | 8.73 | 401,925 | 4.96 | New | 47.79
| Independent |  | 61 | 3 |  11 | 4.17 | 488,699 | 5.93 | -5.61 | 13.96
| Total Seats | 126 ( 0) | Voters | 9,604,331 | Turnout | 8,232,572 (85.72%)

### By constituency[edit]

A. C. NO.  | Assembly Constituency Name  | Category  | Winner Candidates Name  | Gender  | Party  | Vote  | Runner-up Candidates Name  | Gender  | Party  | Vote

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1  | Parassala  | GEN  | M. Kunjukrishnan Nadar  | M  | IND  | 18848  | Thangayyan  | M  | CPI  | 18096
2  | Neyyattinkara  | GEN  | P. Narayanan Thampi  | M  | PSP  | 31707  | R. Janardhanan Nair  | M  | CPI  | 30756
3  | Vilappil  | GEN  | Ponnara G. Sreedhar  | M  | PSP  | 27929  | Surendranath  | M  | CPI  | 24732
4  | Nemom  | GEN  | Viswambaran  | M  | PSP  | 28573  | A. Sadasivan  | M  | CPI  | 22918
5  | Trivandrum I  | GEN  | B. P. Eapen  | M  | PSP  | 27328  | Krishnan Nair  | M  | CPI  | 20385
6  | Trivandrum II  | GEN  | Pattom Thanupillai  | M  | PSP  | 35175  | K. Anirudhan  | M  | CPI  | 25917
7  | Ullur  | GEN  | M. Alikunju Sastri  | M  | PSP  | 30269  | K. P. Alikunju  | M  | CPI  | 24939
8  | Arianad  | GEN  | Antony Dcruz  | M  | PSP  | 25351  | K. C. George  | M  | CPI  | 22258
9  | Nedumangad  | GEN  | N. Neelakandaru Pandarathil  | M  | CPI  | 27797  | P. S. Nataraja Pillai  | M  | PSP  | 25685
10  | Attingal  | GEN  | N. Kunjuraman  | M  | INC  | 28050  | R. Prakasam  | M  | CPI  | 27920
11  | Varkala  | GEN  | Balakrishnan  | M  | CPI  | 50231  | Balakrishnan  | M  | CPI  | 50114
12  | Eravipuram  | GEN  | Ravindran  | M  | CPI  | 25548  | Bhaskara Pillai  | M  | PSP  | 23689
13  | Quilon  | GEN  | A. A. Rahim  | M  | INC  | 25083  | P. K. Sukumaran  | M  | CPI  | 18791
14  | Thrikkadavur  | GEN  | C. M. Stephen  | M  | INC  | 48618  | Krishnan  | M  | INC  | 46244
15  | Karunagappally  | GEN  | Baby John  | M  | IND  | 21238  | Kunjukrishnan  | M  | INC  | 21030
16  | Krishnapuram  | GEN  | P. K. Kunju  | M  | PSP  | 28247  | Karthikeyan  | M  | INC  | 27583
17  | Kayamkulam  | GEN  | Aysha Bai  | F  | CPI  | 30727  | Hemachandran  | M  | INC  | 29467
18  | Karthigapally  | GEN  | R. Sugathan  | M  | CPI  | 30832  | A. Achuthan  | M  | PSP  | 28433
19  | Haripad  | GEN  | N. S. Krishna Pillai  | M  | INC  | 31389  | Ramakrishna Pillai  | M  | IND  | 21080
20  | Mavelikara  | GEN  | Gopala Kurup  | M  | CPI  | 54340  | Kunjachan  | M  | CPI  | 54042
21  | Kunnathur  | GEN  | G. Candrasekhara Pillai  | M  | INC  | 51101  | P. C. Adichen  | M  | CPI  | 49253
22  | Kottarakkara  | (SC)  | Damodaran Pott  | M  | PSP  | 27909  | Chandrasekharan Nair  | M  | CPI  | 25741
23  | Chadayamangalam  | GEN  | K. Bhargavan  | M  | CPI  | 25412  | M. Abdul Majeed  | M  | PSP  | 25290
24  | Pathanapuram  | GEN  | Balakrishna Pillai  | M  | INC  | 35136  | Rajagopalan Nair  | M  | CPI  | 30601
25  | Punalur  | GEN  | K. Krishna Pillai  | M  | CPI  | 26415  | Sathibhai  | F  | INC  | 23042
26  | Ranni  | GEN  | Vayala Idicula  | M  | INC  | 34560  | E. M. Thomas  | M  | CPI  | 24426
27  | Pathanamthitta  | GEN  | C. K. Harichandran Nair  | M  | PSP  | 36660  | K. Karunakaran Nair  | M  | CPI  | 28194
28  | Aranmula  | GEN  | K. Gopinathan Pillai  | M  | INC  | 31899  | R. Gopalakrishna Pillai  | M  | CPI  | 20295
29  | Kallooppara  | GEN  | M. M. Mathai  | M  | INC  | 32270  | Viwanathan Nair  | M  | IND  | 14015
30  | Thiruvalla  | GEN  | P. Chacko  | M  | INC  | 36092  | Padmanabhan Thampi  | M  | CPI  | 20026
31  | Chengannur  | GEN  | K. R. Saraswathy Amma  | F  | INC  | 31964  | R. Rajasekharan Thampi  | M  | CPI  | 19063
32  | Alleppey  | GEN  | Nabisath Beevi  | F  | INC  | 33443  | T. V. Thomas  | M  | CPI  | 29650
33  | Mararikulam  | GEN  | S. Kumaran  | M  | CPI  | 31826  | Devaki Krishnan  | F  | INC  | 24476
34  | Sherthala  | GEN  | K. R. Gouri  | F  | CPI  | 29883  | Subramania Pillai  | M  | INC  | 28377
35  | Aroor  | GEN  | Karthikeyan  | M  | INC  | 29403  | Sadasivan  | M  | CPI  | 27265
36  | Thakashi  | GEN  | Thomas John  | M  | INC  | 33079  | Gopalakrishna Pillai  | M  | IND  | 20961
37  | Changanacherry  | GEN  | N. Bhaskaran Nair  | M  | INC  | 31935  | A. M. Kalyanskrishnan Nair  | M  | CPI  | 22542
38  | Vazhoor  | GEN  | Velappan  | M  | INC  | 27566  | Purushothaman Pillai  | M  | CPI  | 20504
39  | Kanjirappally  | GEN  | K. T. Thomas  | M  | INC  | 28310  | K. S. Mustafaz Kamal  | M  | IND  | 21422
40  | Puthuppally  | GEN  | P. C. Cherian  | M  | INC  | 30260  | M. Thomas  | M  | CPI  | 22349
41  | Kottayam  | GEN  | M. P. Govindan Nair  | M  | INC  | 29020  | N. Raghava Kurup  | M  | CPI  | 27863
42  | Ettumanoor  | GEN  | George Joseph Podipara  | M  | INC  | 30925  | Sankunny Menon  | M  | CPI  | 22367
43  | Meenachil  | GEN  | P. T. Chacko (Thomas)  | M  | INC  | 30745  | Jacob Cherian  | M  | CPI  | 15644
44  | Vaikom  | GEN  | Sreenivasan  | M  | CPI  | 32707  | Pavithran  | M  | INC  | 30638
45  | Kaduthuruthy  | GEN  | Abraham Chummar  | M  | INC  | 32615  | Umadevi Antharjanam  | F  | CPI  | 17316
46  | Ramamangalam  | GEN  | E. P. Poulose | M  | INC  | 32448  | P. V. Abraham | M  | CPI  | 19871
47  | Muvattupuzha  | GEN  | K. M. George  | M  | INC  | 33520  | K. C. Abraham  | M  | IND  | 20907
48  | Devikulam | GEN  | Murugesan Thiruvengadan  | M  | INC  | 75141  | M. M. Sundaram | M  | CPI  | 72801
49  | Thodupuzha  | GEN  | Mathew  | M  | INC  | 34156  | Jose Abraham  | M  | CPI  | 13899
50  | Karikode  | GEN  | Kosumom Joseph  | F  | INC  | 29907  | Saidu Monammad Sahib  | M  | IND  | 13621
51  | Poonjar  | GEN  | T. A. Thomman  | M  | INC  | 35722  | Kumara Menon  | M  | CPI  | 14364
52  | Puliyannur  | GEN  | K. M. Joseph Chazhikattu  | M  | PSP  | 34781  | Ulahanan  | M  | CPI  | 14503
53  | Palluruthy  | GEN  | Alexander Parambithara  | M  | INC  | 33541  | Kerala Varma Thampuran  | M  | IND  | 26304
54  | Mattancherry  | GEN  | K. K. Viswanathan  | M  | INC  | 32997  | Ratnam Ranganath Rai  | F  | IND  | 18411
55  | Neenakkal  | GEN  | K. C. Abraham  | M  | INC  | 31212  | P. R. Leghnan  | M  | CPI  | 28322
56  | Ernakulam  | GEN  | A. L. Jacob  | M  | INC  | 32001  | V. Viswanatha Menon  | M  | CPI  | 25108
57  | Kanayannur  | GEN  | T. K. Ramakrishnan  | M  | CPI  | 31582  | K. R. Narayanan  | M  | INC  | 29101
58  | Alwaye  | GEN  | T. O. Chacko  | M  | INC  | 34484  | M. M. Abdul Kadir  | M  | CPI  | 28867
59  | Perumbavoor  | GEN  | K. M. Chacko  | M  | INC  | 31718  | Govinda Pillai  | M  | CPI  | 25918
60  | Kothakulangara  | GEN  | M. A. Antony  | M  | INC  | 38681  | Kurian  | M  | CPI  | 19872
61  | Parur  | GEN  | K. A. Damodara Menon  | M  | INC  | 30369  | N. Siran Pillai  | M  | CPI  | 26371
62  | Vadakkekara  | GEN  | K. R. Vijayan  | M  | INC  | 27200  | K. A. Balan  | M  | CPI  | 26121
63  | Cranganore  | GEN  | P. K. Abdul Kadir  | M  | INC  | 33679  | E. Gopalakrishna Menon  | M  | CPI  | 26164
64  | Chalakkudy  | GEN  | C. G. Janardhanan  | M  | PSP  | 66618  | K. K. Balakrishnan  | M  | INC  | 66454
65  | Irinjalakuda  | GEN  | C. Achutha Menon  | M  | CPI  | 29069  | P. Achutha Menon  | M  | PSP  | 28708
66  | Manalur  | GEN  | Kuruineelakantan Namboothiripad  | M  | INC  | 30291  | Joseph Mundassari  | M  | CPI  | 27677
67  | Trichur  | GEN  | T. A. Dharmaraja Iyer  | M  | INC  | 30277  | K. Balakrishna Menon  | M  | IND  | 29814
68  | Ollur  | GEN  | P. R. Francis  | M  | INC  | 29950  | V. V. Raghavan  | M  | CPI  | 27091
69  | Kunnamkulam  | GEN  | P. R. Krishnan  | M  | INC  | 29450  | T. K. Krishnan  | M  | CPI  | 26878
70  | Wadakkanchery  | GEN  | K. Balakrishna Menon  | M  | PSP  | 46052  | Kochukuttan  | M  | INC  | 45726
71  | Nattika  | GEN  | K. T. Achuthan  | M  | INC  | 29235  | T. K. Raman  | M  | CPI  | 28796
72  | Guruvayoor  | GEN  | K. G. Karunakara  | M  | INC  | 26083  | K. Damodaran  | M  | CPI  | 25075
73  | Andathodu  | GEN  | B. V. Seethi Thangal  | M  | ML  | 26615  | K. Govinda Kutty Menon  | M  | CPI  | 22621
74  | Ponnani  | GEN  | Kunhambu Kallen  | M  | INC  | 45326  | Cherukoya Thangal  | M  | ML  | 43360
75  | Kushalmannam  | GEN  | Kuduvakottu John  | M  | CPI  | 28817  | T. A. Balakrishnan  | M  | INC  | 17785
76  | Alathur  | GEN  | R. Krishnan  | M  | CPI  | 31159  | A. Sunna Sahib  | M  | INC  | 21935
77  | Chittur  | GEN  | P. Balachandra Menon  | M  | CPI  | 48241  | Narayanan Thandan  | M  | CPI  | 48156
78  | Elapully  | GEN  | A. K. Ramankutty Nair  | M  | CPI  | 24958  | T. K. Kelukutty  | M  | INC  | 18119
79  | Palghat  | GEN  | R. Ranghava Menon  | M  | INC  | 26546  | K. C. Gopalanunni  | M  | CPI  | 24788
80  | Parli  | GEN  | A. R. Menon  | M  | CPI  | 33605  | A. S. Divakaran  | M  | PSP  | 16545
Bye Polls in 1960  | Parli  |  | M.V.Vasu  | M  | COM  | 25977  | A.S.Divakaran  | M  | PSP  | 13760
81  | Mannarghat  | GEN  | Krishnan Kongaseri  | M  | CPI  | 25060  | M. P. Govinda Menon  | M  | PSP  | 18999
82  | Perinthalmanna  | GEN  | E. P. Gopalan  | M  | CPI  | 24866  | Moideenkutty Melevostti  | M  | ML  | 20339
83  | Ottapalam  | GEN  | Kunhunni Nayar  | M  | CPI  | 24741  | Chandrasekhara Kurup  | M  | PSP  | 18118
84  | Pattambi  | GEN  | E. M. Sankaran Namboodiripad  | M  | CPI  | 26478  | A. Raghavan Nair  | M  | INC  | 19156
85  | Mankada  | GEN  | P. Abdul Majeed  | M  | ML  | 24343  | Pookunhi Koya Thangal  | M  | CPI  | 20037
86  | Tirur  | GEN  | K. Moideenkutty Haji  | M  | ML  | 28518  | K. P. Bavakutty  | M  | CPI  | 16603
87  | Tanur  | GEN  | C. H. Mohammad Koya  | M  | ML  | 27893  | Nadukkandy Mohammad Koya  | M  | CPI  | 8445
88  | Kuttippuram  | GEN  | Seethi Sahib  | M  | ML  | 29073  | Kunhikrishnan Thorakkadu  | M  | CPI  | 12430
89  | Thirurangady  | GEN  | Avukkadarkutty Hajee Naha  | M  | ML  | 34749  | M. Koya Kunhi Naha Hajee  | M  | CPI  | 18049
90  | Malappuram  | GEN  | K. Hassan Gani  | M  | ML  | 32947  | Sadhu P. Ahammad Kutty  | M  | CPI  | 12118
91  | Manjeri  | GEN  | P. P. Ummer Koya  | M  | INC  | 69700  | Chandayan Muniadan  | M  | ML  | 66028
92  | Kandotty  | GEN  | M. P. M. Ahammad Kurikkal  | M  | ML  | 33167  | Momukutty Moulavi  | M  | IND  | 11860
93  | Kozhikode I  | GEN  | O. T. Sarada Krishnan | F  | INC  | 30638  | Krishnan Kallat  | M  | CPI  | 24732
94  | Kozhikode I I  | GEN  | P. Kumaran  | M  | INC  | 33587  | Appu Adiuolil  | M  | IND  | 20613
95  | Chevayur  | GEN  | Raghavan Nair  | M  | CPI  | 29063  | A. Balagopalan  | M  | INC  | 28357
96  | Kunnamangalam  | GEN  | Leela Damodara Menon  | F  | INC  | 34539  | Chathunni  | M  | CPI  | 22608
97  | Koduvally  | GEN  | Gopalakutty Nair  | M  | INC  | 37483  | M. V. Alikoya  | M  | IND  | 16214
98  | Balusseri  | GEN  | M. Narayana Kuruf  | M  | PSP  | 32423  | K. Kalandankutty  | M  | IND  | 22983
99  | Quilandy  | GEN  | Kunhiraman Nabbiar  | M  | PSP  | 40361  | Ramakrishnan  | M  | IND  | 21083
100  | Perambra  | GEN  | P. K. Narayanan Nambiar  | M  | PSP  | 38272  | Kumaran Madathil  | M  | CPI  | 27472
101  | Badagara  | GEN  | M. Krishnan  | M  | PSP  | 32552  | M. K. Kelu  | M  | CPI  | 22824
102  | Nadapuram  | GEN  | Hameed Ali Shemnad  | M  | ML  | 34893  | C. H. Kanaran  | M  | CPI  | 27846
103  | Wynad  | GEN  | Balakrishnan Nambiar  | M  | INC  | 79235  | Madhura Vazhavatta  | M  | INC  | 77380
104  | Kuthuparamba  | GEN  | P. Ramunni Kurup  | M  | PSP  | 42338  | Aboo  | M  | IND  | 18691
105  | Mattannur  | GEN  | N. E. Balaram  | M  | CPI  | 31119  | Achuthan  | M  | PSP  | 31034
106  | Tellicherry  | GEN  | P. Kunhiraman  | M  | INC  | 28380  | V. R. Krishna Iyar  | M  | IND  | 28357
107  | Cannanore I  | GEN  | R. Sankar  | M  | INC  | 33313  | Kannan Chaliyoth  | M  | CPI  | 23859
108  | Cannanore II  | GEN  | Madhavan Pamban  | M  | INC  | 31252  | K. P. Gopalan  | M  | CPI  | 27563
109  | Madayi  | GEN  | Prahladan Gopalan | M  | INC  | 30829  | K. P. R. Gopalan  | M  | CPI  | 30568
110  | Irikkur  | GEN  | T. C. Narayanaan Nambiar  | M  | CPI  | 31769  | M. P. Moidu Hajee Melekandy  | M  | INC  | 30489
111  | Nileswar  | GEN  | C. Kunhikrshna Nair  | M  | INC  | 59513  | Koran Olaikkapurakal  | M  | PSP  | 59340
112  | Hosdrug  | GEN  | K. Chandrasekharan  | M  | PSP  | 27862  | K. Madhavan  | M  | CPI  | 22315
113  | Kasaragod  | GEN  | M. Kunhikannan Nambiar  | M  | INC  | 19399  | Anantharama Chetty  | M  | IND  | 15747
114  | Manjeshwar  | GEN  | Kalige Mahabala Bhandary  | M  | IND  | 23129  | Kamappa Master  | M  | CPI  | 13131

[8]

## Government formation[edit]

Congress and Praja Socialist Party alliance got the majority[6] in the election and hence formed the government. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai of the Praja Socialist Party became the chief minister[9] and R. Sankar of the Indian National Congress became the deputy chief minister on 22 February 1960, with eleven council ministers.[1]

Pattam A. Thanu Pillai resigned on 26 September 1962 after he was appointed as the Governor of Punjab and R. Sankar became the first Congress Chief Minister of Kerala.

## See also[edit]

* The Liberation Struggle
* President's rule
* 1960 elections in India
* Pattom Thanupillai Ministry
* R. Sankar Ministry
* 1957 Kerala Legislative Assembly election

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "History of Kerala Legislature". Kerala Government. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ "Fresh light on 'Liberation Struggle'". The Hindu. 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
4. ^ Visalakshi, Dr. N.R. (January–March 1966). "Presidents Rule in Kerala". The Indian Journal of Political Science. 27 (1): 55–68. JSTOR 41854147.
5. ^ Sethy, Rabindra Kumar (2003). Political Crisis and President's Rule in an Indian State. APH Publishing. p. 72\. ISBN 9788176484633.
6. ^ a b c d "Statistical Report on General Election, 1960 : To the Legislative Assembly of Kerala" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
7. ^ Thomas Johnson Nossiter (1 January 1982). Communism in Kerala: A Study in Political Adaptation. University of California Press. p. 128\. ISBN 978-0-520-04667-2.
8. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results in 1960". www.elections.in. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
9. ^ "Kerala Legislature – Chief Ministers". Kerala Government. Retrieved 30 July 2015.

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