---
title: "1948 Indian General Elections Begin"
year: 1948
country: "India"
canonical: "https://recap.at/1948/1948-indian-elections"
slug: "1948-indian-elections"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "1948-01-01"
---

# 1948 Indian General Elections Begin

> The world's largest democratic election commenced in newly independent India, testing universal suffrage on a population of 350 million.

## Summary

General elections were held in British India in December 1945 to elect members of the Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of State. Election under Government of India Act 1935 were held with limited franchise and only around 10% of the population in direct British controlled provinces were eligible to vote based on their income and property. The Indian National Congress emerged as the largest party, winning 57 of the 102 elected seats. The Muslim League won all Muslim constituencies, but failed to win any other seats. Of the 13 remaining seats, 8 went to Europeans, 3 to independents, and 2 to Akali candidates in the Sikh constituencies of Punjab. This election coupled with the provincial one in 1946 proved to be a strategic victory for Jinnah and the partitionists. Even though Congress won, the League had united the Muslim vote and as such it gained the negotiating power to seek a separate Muslim homeland as it became clear that a united India would prove highly unstable. The elected members later formed the Constituent Assembly of India.

## Sources

- [1945 Indian general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1945_Indian_general_election) - Wikipedia

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Canonical: https://recap.at/1948/1948-indian-elections