MEMBERS' REFERENCE SERVICE

LARRDIS

LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI

REFERENCE NOTE

No. 35/RN/Ref/July/2016

1 For the use of Members of Parliament NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Recent Elections to Five Legislative Assemblies

Prepared by Shri B. Phani Kumar, Additional Director (23034536) and Smt. Bela Routh, Joint Director of Lok Sabha Secretariat under the supervision of Smt. Kalpana Sharma, Joint Secretary and Shri C.N. Sathyanathan, Director.

The reference material is for personal use of the Members in the discharge of their Parliamentary duties, and is not for publication. This Service is not to be quoted as the source of information as it is based on the sources indicated at the end/in the text. This Service does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or veracity of the information or views contained in the note/collection.

RECENT ELECTIONS TO FIVE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION REGARDING TERM OF HOUSE OF STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES Article 172(1) of the Constitution of India, provides that 'Every Legislative Assembly of every State, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of the Assembly: Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate'1.

Provision for dissolution of State Legislative Assemblies by the Governor of the State is provided under Article 174 (2)(b) of the Constitution. Further, in the event of a State being under President’s Rule, as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, the Legislative Assembly of the said State may be prematurely dissolved by the President2.

Accordingly, the duration of the five Legislative Assemblies which went to the polls in April-May 2016 i.e. Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry and Assam ended in May-June 2016 alongwith the total number of seats each House comprises is given below3:

S.NO. HOUSE/STATE FROM TO ASSEMBLY SEATS 1. Tamil Nadu 23.05.2011 22.05.2016 234 2. West Bengal 30.05.2011 29.05.2016 294 3. Kerala 01.06.2011 31.05.2016 140 4. Puducherry 03.06.2011 02.06.2016 30 5. Assam 06.06.2011 05.06.2016 126

1 Constitution of India 2 India, Rajya Sabha Department Related Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice 2015, 79th Report, p. 8 3 http://eci.nic.in 2

Article 324 of the Constitution of India provides that the superintendence, direction, control and conduct of all elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, President and Vice-President shall be vested in the Election Commission of India. To facilitate the conduct of elections by the Election Commission of India, the Parliament has enacted the Representation of People Act, 1950 and Representation of People Act, 1951 and the Rules framed thereunder, viz., Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The budgetary allocation for conduct of elections and functioning of the Election Commission of India is provided as a separate grant under the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Law and Justice. The expenditure is voted expenditure4.

ELECTION RESULTS

TAMIL NADU

The Election to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly was held on 16 May 2016. The result was declared on 19 May 2016. The ruling AIADMK led by Ms. Jayaram Jayalalitha became the first incumbent Chief Minister since 1989 to return to power in the State. She was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 23 May 2016 for the sixth time. In the 234- member House, the AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) won 134 seats and the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) bagged 89 seats, while election to two Assembly constituencies was postponed by the Election Commission. The Party position is as under:

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-134, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam- 89, Indian National Congress - 8, Indian Union Muslim League- 1.

Party-wise Vote Share5 The percentage and total number of votes polled by each Party is as under:

4 Op.cit., 79th Report 5 Election Commission of India 3

AIDMK {40.8%, (17617060)}, DMK {31.6%, (13670511)} INC {6.4%, (2774075)}, PMK {5.3%, (2300775)},BJP {2.8%, (1228692)}, DMDK {2.4%, (1034384)} IND {1.4%, (617907)}, NTK {1.1%, (458104)}, MDMK {0.9%, (373713)}, CPI {0.8%, (340290)}, VCK {0.8%, (331849)}, IUML {0.7%, (313808)}, CPM {0.7%, (307303)},TMC(M) {0.5%, (230711)}, PT {0.5%, (219830)}, MAMAK {0.5%, (197150)}, KMDK {0.4%, (167560)}, BSP {0.2%, (97823)}, SDPI {0.2%, (65978)}, NOTA {1.3%, (561244)}.

 ADMK {40.8%,17617060}  DMK {31.6%,13670511}  INC {6.4%,2774075}  PMK {5.3%,2300775}  BJP {2.8%,1228692}  DMDK {2.4%,1034384}  IND {1.4%,617907}  ntk {1.1%,458104}  MDMK {0.9%,373713}  CPI {0.8%,340290}  VCK {0.8%,331849}  IUML {0.7%,313808}  CPM {0.7%,307303}  TMC(M) {0.5%,230711}  PT {0.5%,219830}  MAMAK {0.5%,197150}  KMDK {0.4%,167560}  BSP {0.2%,97823}  SDPI {0.2%,65978}

 NOTA {1.3%,561244}  Other WEST BENGAL

The election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly was held over a month in six phases from 4 April to 5 May 2016. The overall voter turnout was above 80%. The All India Trinamool Congress led by Kum. Mamata Banerjee the incumbent Chief Minister emerged victorious by winning 211 seats in the 294-member House. She took 4 oath again as Chief Minister of West Bengal on 27 May 2016. Seats won by the remaining parties are as under:

All India Trinamool Congress- 211, Indian National Congress- 44, Communist Party of India (Marxist)- 26, Bhartiya Janta Party-3, Revolutionary Socialist Party-3, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-3, All India Forward Bloc-2, Communist Party of India -1, Independent -1.

Party-wise Vote Share6 The percentage and total number of votes polled by each Party is as under: AITC {44.9%, (24564523)}, CPM {19.7%, (10802058)}, INC {12.3%, (6700938)}, BJP {10.2%, (5555134)}, AIFB {2.8%, (1543764)}, IND {2.2%, (1184047)}, RSP {1.7%, (911004)}, CPI {1.4%, (791925)}, SUCI {0.7%, (365996)},BSP {0.5%, (300294)}, GOJAM {0.5%, (254626)}, DSP(P) {0.3%, (167576)},NOTA {1.5%, (831845}.

 AITC {44.9%,24564523}  CPM {19.7%,10802058}  INC {12.3%,6700938}  BJP {10.2%,5555134}  AIFB {2.8%,1543764}  IND {2.2%,1184047}  RSP {1.7%,911004}  CPI {1.4%,791925}  SUCI {0.7%,365996}  BSP {0.5%,300294}  GOJAM{0.5%,254626}  DSP(P){0.3%,167576}  NOTA {1.5%,831845}  Other

6 Ibid 5

KERALA The Kerala Assembly elections were held in single phase on 16 May and results were declared on 19 May 2016. The Kerala State Assembly comprises 140 constituencies. The UDF which was in power could not retain power and the opposition, CPI (M) led Left Democratic Front consisting of CPI, and other parties won the election. CPI(M) politbureau member, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala on 25 May 2016. In the 140-member House, the Party Position is as under:

Communist Party of India (Marxist)-58, Indian National Congress-22, Communist Party of India-19, Indian Union Muslim League- 18, Kerala Congress (M)- 6, Janata Dal (Secular)- 3, Nationalist Congress Party- 2, Bharatiya Janata Party- 1, Communist Marxist Party Kerala State Committee- 1, Congress (Secular) -1, Kerala Congress (Jacob)- 1, Kerala Congress (B)- 1, National Secular Conference- 1, Independent-6.

Party-wise Vote Share7 The percentage and total number of votes polled by each Party is as under: CPM {26.5%, 5365472)}, INC {23.7%, (4794793)}, BJP {10.5%, (2129726)}, CPI {8.1%, (1643878)}, IUML{7.4%, (1496864)}, IND{5.3%, (1066995)}, KEC(M) {4.0%, (807718)}, BDJS {3.9%, (795797)}, JD(U) {1.5%, (296585)}, JD(S) {1.4%, (293274)}, NCP {1.2%, (237408)}, RSP {1.1%, (216071)}, NSC {0.6%, (130843)}, SDPI {0.6%, (123243)}, CMPKSC {0.6%, (120158)}, INL {0.6%, (112261)}, KEC(B) {0.4%, (74429)}, KEC(J) {0.4%, (73770)}, WPOI {0.3%, (61653)}, C(S) {0.3%, (54347)}, PDP {0.2%, (47950)}, BSP {0.2%, (47638}, KEC {0.2%, (37108)}, ADMK {0.2%, (33440)}, KCST {0.2%, (31537)}, NOTA {0.5%, (107239)}.

7 Ibid 6

 CPM {26.5%,5365472}  INC {23.7%,4794793}  BJP {10.5%,2129726}  CPI {8.1%,1643878}  IUML {7.4%,1496864}

 IND {5.3%,1066995}  KEC(M) {4.0%,807718}  BDJS {3.9%,795797}  JD(U) {1.5%,296585}  JD(S) {1.4%,293274}  NCP {1.2%,237408}  RSP {1.1%,216071}  NSC {0.6%,130843}

 SDPI {0.6%,123243}  CMPKSC {0.6%,120158}  INL {0.6%,112261}  KEC(B) {0.4%,74429}  KEC(J) {0.4%,73770}  WPOI {0.3%,61653}  C(S) {0.3%,54347}  PDP {0.2%,47950}  BSP {0.2%,47638}  KEC {0.2%,37108}  ADMK {0.2%,33440}  KCST {0.2%,31537}  NOTA {0.5%,107239}  Other

PUDUCHERRY The Puducherry Assembly Elections were held on 16 May in 30 constituencies of the union territory. The voter turnout was slightly above 80 per cent. Results were declared on 19 May. The ruling All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) led by Shri N. Rangasamy ceded power to Congress which secured 15 seats and emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly. Shri V. Narayanasamy of Indian National Congress (INC) assumed office of Chief Minister of Poducherry on 6 June 2016. While the 7

AINRC secured eight seats, the DMK and AIADMK secured two and four respectively. The seats won by various parties is as under:

Indian National Congress- 15, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – 4, All India N.R. Congress- 8, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-2, Independent-1.

Party-wise Vote Share8 The percentage and total number of votes polled by each Party is as under: INC {30.6%, (244886)}, AINRC {28.1%, (225082)}, ADMK {16.8%, (134597)}, DMK {8.9%, (70836)}, IND {7.9%, (62884)}, BJP {2.4%, (19303)}, CPI {1.1%, (8567)}, PMK {0.7%, (5666)}, VCK {0.5%, (3915)}, ntk {0.5%, (3888)}, CPM {0.4%, (3014)}, NOTA {1.7%, (13240)}

 INC {30.6%,244886}  AINRC {28.1%,225082}  ADMK {16.8%,134597}  DMK {8.9%,70836}  IND {7.9%,62884}  BJP {2.4%,19303}  CPI {1.1%,8567}  PMK {0.7%,5666}  VCK {0.5%,3915}  ntk {0.5%,3888}  CPM {0.4%,3014}  NOTA {1.7%,13240}  Other

ASSAM Elections to the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly were held in two phases on 4 and 11 April 2016. The overall voter turnout was 84.72%. The Indian National Congress led by Shri Tarun Gogoi which had been in power in the State for three consecutive terms since 2001, could not retain power and the BJP alongwith alliance partners Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)

8 Ibid 8 emerged victorious by winning 86 seats. The BJP leader, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, was sworn in as Chief Minister of Assam on 24 May 2016. Shri Sonowal had earlier resigned as Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 22 May 2016 and also as a Member of Lok Sabha on 28 May 2016. The seats won by other parties are as under: Bharatiya Janata Party -60, Indian National Congress- 26, Asom Gana Parishad- 14, All India United Democratic Front- 13, Bodoland Peoples Front- 12, Independent-1.

Party-wise Vote Share9 The percentage and total number of votes polled by each Party is as under: INC {31.0%, (5238655)}, BJP {29.5%, (4992185)}, AIUDF {13.0%, (2207945)}, IND {11.0%, (1867532)}, AGP {8.1%, (1377482)}, BOPF {3.9%, (666057)}, CPM {0.6%, (93508)}, NCP {0.3%, (44848)},CPI {0.2%, (37243)}, BGanP {0.2%, (33220)},AITC {0.2%, (27739)}, NOTA {1.1%, (189080)}.

 INC {31.0%,5238655}  BJP {29.5%,4992185}  AIUDF {13.0%,2207945}  IND {11.0%,1867532}  AGP {8.1%,1377482}

 BOPF {3.9%,666057}  CPM {0.6%,93508}  NCP {0.3%,44848}  CPI {0.2%,37243}  BGanP {0.2%,33220}  AITC {0.2%,27739}  NOTA {1.1%,189080}  Other

9 http://eci.nic.in 9

In nutshell, in two States the ruling party retained power i.e. the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu and the All India Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. The ruling UDF led by Indian National Congress Party could not retain power in Kerala, , where it was in power before the elections. In Assam, the Indian National Congress, which was in power for 15 years, could not get fourth term as the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party with 60 seats and along with allies AGP and BPF formed the Government. The Indian National Cogress has won in the Union Territory of Puducherry in alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).