When was First Historic Assembly Election of Delhi Held?

Delhi, the capital of India, has always been a center of politics. The first election for the Delhi Assembly happened in 1952, shaping the city’s future. At that time, the Congress party was the strongest, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not exist. This article explains Delhi’s first election, its results and how the city got an unexpected Chief Minister.

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When was Delhi’s First Election Held?

Delhi’s Assembly was created on March 17, 1952, under a law called the Government of Part-C States Act, 1952. The first elections were held that year, and a government was formed. However, in 1956, the Assembly was removed. Later, in 1966, a new body called the Metropolitan Council was created.

This Metropolitan Council had 56 elected members and 5 nominated members. It helped in governing Delhi but did not have full power like an Assembly.

Congress Won by a Huge Margin

The first Delhi Assembly Elections were held in 1952 when Delhi had 48 assembly seats. During that time, Congress was the dominant party and the BJP was not in existence. A total of 521,766 voters participates. Out of this, more than 52% of the votes went to the Congress Party. Congress won 36 out of 48 seats, securing a clear majority.

Unexpected Chief Minister of Delhi

After the election, Congress had to choose a chief minister. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wanted Deshbandhu Gupta for the position. But before he could take office, Gupta passed away in an accident.

This created a problem for congress. As a solution, Nehru selected Chaudhary Brahm Prakash as Delhi’s first Chief Minister. Since he became CM due to an unexpected situation, people often call him Delhi’s “Accidental Chief Minister.”

Who was Chaudhary Brahm Prakash?

Chaudhary Brahm Prakash was a humble leader. He had participated in India’s freedom struggle and always lived a simple life. Even after his time as Chief Minister ended, he did not seek luxury. He often traveled by public bus instead of using government vehicles.