1969 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election

1969 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election
← 1967 9 February 1969 1971 →

All 280 seats in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
141 seats needed for a majority
Turnout66.51%
  Majority party Minority party
 
Jyoti Basu - Calcutta 1996-12-21 089 Cropped.png
Congress Party old symbol.png
Leader Jyoti Basu Prafulla Chandra Sen
Party CPI(M) INC
Alliance UF
Leader since 1964 1962
Leader's seat Baranagar Arambagh
Last election 18.10%, 43 seats 41.1%, 127 seats
Seats won 80 55
Seat change Increase 37 Decrease 72
Popular vote 2,676,981 5,538,622
Percentage 20.0% 41.3%
Swing Increase 1.9 pp Increase 0.2 pp

Chief Minister before election

President's rule

Elected Chief Minister

Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee
Bangla Congress

Elections were held in Indian state of West Bengal in February 1969 to elect 280 members to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.[1][2] United Front formed the government with Ajoy Mukherjee as the Chief Minister. United Front won a landslide 214 seats and 49.7% of the votes.[3]

Background

In the previous assembly election, the Indian National Congress was defeated due to unpopularity of state PCC chief Bijoy Singh Nahar's autocratic style of functioning & chief minister Prafulla Chandra Sen's unpopular decision of implementing food rationing in the state to handle the food crisis caused by famine in the state. The first non-Congress government was formed on 1 March 1967 with Ajoy Mukherjee of Bangla Congress from the United Front (also consisting of CPI, AIFB & BPI) as the chief-minister & Jyoti Basu of CPI(M) from the United Left Front (also consisting of RSP, SUCI(C), SSP, MFB, WPI & RCPI) as the deputy chief minister. However, the coalition government soon fell apart due to the demand of land reforms raised by the Land Minister, CPI(M) leader Hare Krishna Konar, which threatened the rural landed-gentry support-base of the Bangla Congress & legalisation of gherao policy by Labour Minister, SUCI(C) leader Subodh Banerjee. Frequent strikes & assaulting of big businessmen and industrialists by Communist labour unions was causing them to gradually shift their operations out of the state. In spite of requests from industries minister, Bangla Congress leader Sushil Kumar Dhara, deputy chief-minister Basu refused to remove Banerjee from the labour ministry on grounds of CPI(M)'s ideological similarities with SUCI(C). So, Mukherjee himself sat on a hunger strike at Curzon Park (renamed as Surendranath Park) just in front of Writer's Building, the state secretariat building, demanding Banerjee's resignation. However, there he was heckled by cadres of CPI(M) & SUCI(C).[4]

There were further differences within the government over CPI(M)'s initial soft approach towards Naxalbari uprising on grounds of CPI(M)'s ideological similarities & shared adoration for Mao Zedong with the rebels. CPI(M) also organised strikes demanding the resignation of the Food Minister, independent MLA Prafulla Chandra Ghosh over his poor handling of the food crisis.

In midst of these events, Ghosh formed his own party 'Progressive Democratic Front' with 16 elected members of the Bangla Congress & sent a letter to the Governor Dharma Vira laying claim to the government with the support of the Congress. The Governor dissolved the Ajoy Mukherjee-Jyoti Basu led government without conducting a no-trust vote in the Legislative Assembly & sworn in Ghosh as the new chief minister on 21 November 1967. Mukherjee & Basu put aside their differences & together organised protests against Ghosh's government, leading to increasing political violence between the cadres of CPI(M) & Congress. In midst of the food crisis & escalating political violence among political parties and that between Naxalites & others in the state, President's Rule had to be introduced on 20 February 1968, following which, the previous legislative assembly was dissolved.[5]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Communist Party of India (Marxist)2,676,98119.9780Increase 37
Indian National Congress5,538,62241.3255Decrease 72
Bangla Congress1,094,6548.1733Decrease 1
Communist Party of India938,4727.0030Increase 14
All India Forward Bloc671,6645.0121Increase 8
Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)375,9832.8012Increase 6
Samyukta Socialist Party249,3621.869Increase 2
Socialist Unity Centre of India202,7211.517Increase 3
Praja Socialist Party175,8901.315Decrease 2
Lok Sewak Sangh99,8440.744NA
Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League71,6650.534NA
Progressive Muslim League (West Bengal)208,5741.563NA
Revolutionary Communist Party of India51,1810.382NA
Workers Party of India47,3910.352NA
Indian National Democratic Front118,6500.891NA
Marxist Forward Bloc27,1430.201NA
Others374,4212.7900
Independents481,0923.5911Decrease 20
Total13,404,310100.002800
Valid votes13,404,31097.43
Invalid/blank votes353,7622.57
Total votes13,758,072100.00
Registered voters/turnout20,685,11066.51
Source: ECI[6]

Elected members

Constituency Reserved for
(SC/ST/None)
Member Party
Mekliganj None Amarendra Nath Roy Prouhan All India Forward Bloc
Mathabhanga SC Birendra Nath Roy Indian National Congress
Cooch Behar West SC Prasenjit Barman Indian National Congress
Sitai None Md. Fazle Haque Indian National Congress
Dinhata None Animesh Mukharjee Indian National Congress
Cooch Behar North None Bimal Kanti Basu All India Forward Bloc
Cooch Behar South None Santosh Kumar Roy Indian National Congress
Tufanganj SC Akshay Kumar Barma Indian National Congress
Kumargram None Pijish Kanti Mukherjee Indian National Congress
Kalchini ST Denis Lakra Indian National Congress
Alipurduars None Nani Bhattacharya Revolutionary Socialist Party
Falakata SC Jagadananda Roy Indian National Congress
Madarihat ST A . H . Besterwitcoh Revolutionary Socialist Party
Dhupguri None Anildhar Guma Neogi Samyukta Socialist Party
Nagrakata ST Budhu Bhagat Indian National Congress
Mainaguri SC Jajneswar Ray Indian National Congress
Mal ST Antoni Topno Indian National Congress
Jalpaiguri None Nares Chandra Chakravorty Communist Party of India
Rajganj SC Kiran Chandra Roy Indian National Congress
Kalimpong None P . L . Subba Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League
Darjeeling None Deo Prakash Rai Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League
Jore Bungalow None Nandalal Gurung Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League
Siliguri None Prem Thapa Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League
Phansidewa ST Iswar Chandra Tirkey Indian National Congress
Chopra None Choudhury Abdul Karim Indian National Democratic Front
Goalpokhar None Mohamad Salimuddin Praja Socialist Party
Karandighi None Suresh Chandra Sinha All India Forward Bloc
Raiganj None Manash Roy Communist Party of India
Kaliaganj SC Barman Syama Prasad Indian National Congress
Itahar None Abedin Zainal Indian National Congress
Kushmandi SC Jatindra Mohan Roy Indian National Congress
Gangarampur None Ahindra Sarkar Communist Party of India
Kumarganj None Abinash Basu Bangla Congress
Balurghat None Mukal Basu Revolutionary Socialist Party
Tapan ST Nathaniel Murmu Revolutionary Socialist Party
Habibpur ST Nimai Chand Murmu Communist Party of India
Gajol ST Lakshan Saren Indian National Congress
Kharba None Golam Yazdani Independent
Harishchandrapur None Md. Elias Razi Workers Party of India
Ratua None Mohammad Ali Independent
Malda None Md. Gafurur Rahaman Indian National Congress
Englishbazar None Bimal Kanti Das Communist Party of India
Manikchak None Arun Chandra Jha Indian National Congress
Suzapur None A . B . A . G . Khan Choudhry Indian National Congress
Kaliachak None Shamsuddin Ahmad Indian National Congress
Farakka None Sk. Sahadat Hossain Bangla Congress
Suti None Md. Sohorab Indian National Congress
Jangipur None Abdul Haque Revolutionary Socialist Party
Sagardighi SC Kuber Chand Haldar Bangla Congress
Lalgola None Abdus Sattar Indian National Congress
Bhagabangola None Sailendra Nath Adhicary Samyukta Socialist Party
Nabagram None Birendra Narayan Roy Independent
Murshidabad None Mohammad Idris Ali Indian National Congress
Jalangi None Azizur Rahman Indian National Congress
Domkal None Biswas Ekram-ul - Haque Indian National Congress
Naoda None Khan Nasiruddin Progressive Muslim League
Hariharpara None Ahammad Aktabuddin Progressive Muslim League
Berhampore None Sanat Kumar Raha Communist Party of India
Beldanga None Muhammed Khuda Bukhsh Independent
Kandi None Kumar J . C . Sinha Independent
Khargram SC Kumarish Chandra Moulick Revolutionary Socialist Party
Barwan None Amalendra Lal Ray Revolutionary Socialist Party
Bharatpur None Satyapada Bhattacharyya Revolutionary Socialist Party
Karimpur None Nalinaksha Sanyal Indian National Congress
Tehatta None Surat Ali Khan Indian National Congress
Kaliganj None S . M . Fazlur Rahman Indian National Congress
Nakashipara SC Nil Kamal Sarkar Indian National Congress
Chapra None Salil Behari Hundle Bangla Congress
Nabadwip None Sachnidra Mohan Nandy Indian National Congress
Krishnagar West None Amritendu Mukherjee Communist Party of India
Krishnagar East None Kashi Kanta Maitra Samyukta Socialist Party
Hanskhali SC Charuminir Sarkar Bangla Congress
Santipur None M. Makshed Ali Revolutionary Communist Party of India
Ranaghat West None Kundu Gourchandra Communist Party of India
Ranaghat East SC Nitaipada Sarkar Communist Party of India
Chakdah None Subal Chandra Mandal Bangla Congress
Haringhata None Baksh Mohammad Karin Independent
Bagdaha SC Apurba Lal Majumdar All India Forward Bloc
Bongaon None Ajit Kumar Ganguly Communist Party of India
Gaighata None Parul Saha Bangla Congress
Ashokenagar None Sadhan Kumar Sen Communist Party of India
Barasat None Saral Deb All India Forward Bloc
Rajarhat SC Rabindra Nath Mondal Communist Party of India
Deganga None Harun - Or - Rashid Progressive Muslim League
Habra None Tarun Kanti Ghosh Indian National Congress
Swarupnagar None Jaminiranjan Sen Communist Party of India
Baduria None Mir Abdus Sayeed Communist Party of India
Basirhat None A.b. Bandyopadhyaya Communist Party of India
Hasnabad None Abdur Razzaque Khan Communist Party of India
Hingalganj SC Hazari Lal Mondal Communist Party of India
Gosaba SC Ganesh Chandra Mondal Revolutionary Socialist Party
Sandeshkhali ST Sarat Sardar Communist Party of India
Haroa SC Brajendra Nath Sarkar Bangla Congress
Basanti None Ashoke Chaudhuri Revolutionary Socialist Party
Canning SC Naryan Naskar Indian National Congress
Kultali SC Prabodh Purkait Socialist Unity Centre of India
Joynagar None Subodh Banerjee Socialist Unity Centre of India
Baruipur SC Kumud Ranjan Mondal Samyukta Socialist Party
Sonarpur SC Gangadhar Naskar Communist Party of India
Bhangar None A.k.m. Ishaque Indian National Congress
Jadavpur None Bikesh Chandra Guha Communist Party of India
Behala East None Niranjan Mukherjee Communist Party of India
Behala West None Rabin Mukherjee Communist Party of India
Garden Reach None Arun Sen Communist Party of India
Maheshtola None Sudhir Chandra Bhandari Communist Party of India
Budge Budge None Khiti Bhusan Roy Barman Communist Party of India
Bishnupur West None Provash Chandra Roy Communist Party of India
Bishnupur East SC Sundar Kumar Haskar Communist Party of India
Falta None Jyotish Roy Communist Party of India
Diamond Harbour None Abdul Quiyom Molla Communist Party of India
Magrahat East SC Radhika Rajan Pramanik Communist Party of India
Magrahat West None Sachindranath Mondal Bangla Congress
Kulpi SC Murari Mohan Halder Bangla Congress
Mathurapur SC Renupada Halder Socialist Unity Centre of India
Patharpratima None Rabin Mondal Socialist Unity Centre of India
Kakdwip None Hansadhwaj Dhara Indian National Congress
Sagar None Gobardhan Dingal Bangla Congress
Bijpur None Jagadish Chandra Das Communist Party of India
Naihati None Gopal Basu Communist Party of India
Bhatpara None Sitaram Gupta Communist Party of India
Noapara None Jamini Bhuson Saha Communist Party of India
Titagarh None Mohammed Amin Communist Party of India
Khardah None Sadhan Kumar Chakraborty Communist Party of India
Panihati None G.k. Bhattacharyya Communist Party of India
Kamarhati None Radhika Ranjan Banerjee Communist Party of India
Baranagar None Jyoti Basu Communist Party of India
Dum Dum None Tarun Kumar Sen Gupta Communist Party of India
Cossipur None Basu Vishnugopal Communist Party of India
Shampukur None Basu Hemanta Kumar All India Forward Bloc
Jorabagan None Roy Nepal Chandra Indian National Congress
Jorasanko None Deokinandan Poddar Indian National Congress
Bara Bazar None Saraogi Ram Krishna Indian National Congress
Bow Bazar None Bijoy Singh Nahar Indian National Congress
Chowringhee None Ray Siddhartha Shankar Indian National Congress
Kabitirtha None Kalimuddin Shams All India Forward Bloc
Alipore None Mani Sanyal Communist Party of India
Kalighat None Sadhan Gupta Communist Party of India
Rashbehari Avenue None Bejoy Kumar Banerjee Independent
Tollygunge None Niranjan Sen Gupta Communist Party of India
Dhakuria None Somnath Lahiri Communist Party of India
Ballygunge None Jyotibhusan Bhattacharya Workers Party of India
Beliaghata South None Manranjan Baral Communist Party of India
Entally None A.m.o. Ghani Communist Party of India
Taltola None Abul Hassan Communist Party of India
Sealdah None Jatin Chakravorty Revolutionary Socialist Party
Vidyasagar None Samar Kumar Pudra Communist Party of India
Beliaghata North None Krishnapada Ghosh Communist Party of India
Manicktola None Ila Mitra Communist Party of India
Burtola None Nikhil Das Revolutionary Socialist Party
Belgachia None Lakshmicharan Sen Communist Party of India
Bally None Patit Paban Pathak Communist Party of India
Howrah North None Nirmal Kumar Mukherjee Indian National Congress
Howrah Central None Anadi Das Revolutionary Communist Party of India
Howrah South None Pralay Talukdar Communist Party of India
Panchla None Kanai Lal Bhattacharyya All India Forward Bloc
Domjur None Joykesh Mukherjee Communist Party of India
Jagatballavpur None Tarapada Dey Communist Party of India
Panchla None Bibhuti Bhushin Ghosh All India Forward Bloc
Sankrail SC Haran Chandra Hazra Communist Party of India
Uluberia North SC Kalipada Mondal All India Forward Bloc
Uluberia South None Biswanath Das Ghose All India Forward Bloc
Shyampur None Sasabindu Bora All India Forward Bloc
Bangnan None Nirupama Chatterjee Communist Party of India
Kalyanpur None Sunil Kumar Mitra Bangla Congress
Amta None Nitai Bhandari Communist Party of India
Udaynarayanpur None Panna Lal Maji Communist Party of India
Jangipara None Maninda Nath Jana Communist Party of India
Chanditala None Mohamed Abdul Latif Independent
Uttarapara None Monoranjan Hazra Communist Party of India
Serampore None Panchugopal Bhaduri Communist Party of India
Champdani None Haripada Mukherjee Communist Party of India
Chandernagore None Bhabani Mukehjee Communist Party of India
Singur None Gopal Bandopadhaya Communist Party of India
Haripal None Amales Chadra Hazumdar Samyukta Socialist Party
Chinsurah None Sambhu Charan Bhose All India Forward Bloc
Polba None Brajo Gopal Neogy Communist Party of India
Balagarh SC Hbinash Pramanik Communist Party of India
Pandua None Deb Narayan Chakrabarty Communist Party of India
Dhaniakhali SC Kripa Sindhu Saha All India Forward Bloc
Tarakeswar None Ram Chatterjee Marxist Forward Bloc
Pursurah None Santi Mohun Roy Indian National Congress
Khanakul SC Madan Saha Communist Party of India
Arambagh None Prafulla Chandra Sen Indian National Congress
Goghat SC Ajit Kumar Biswas All India Forward Bloc
Chandrakona None Saroshi Choudhury Communist Party of India
Ghatal SC Nanda Rani Dal Communist Party of India
Daspur None Mrigendra Bhattacharjya Communist Party of India
Panskura West None Ahindra Mishra Bangla Congress
Panskura East None Geeta Mukhopadhyay Communist Party of India
Moyna None Kanai Bhowmick Communist Party of India
Tamluk None Ajoy Kumar Mikhopadhyay Bangla Congress
Mahishadal None Sushil Kumar Dhara Bangla Congress
Sutahata SC Harahari Deb Indian National Congress
Nandigram None Bhupal Chandra Panda Communist Party of India
Narghat None Subodh Chandra Maity Indian National Congress
Bhagabanpur None Maity Abha Indian National Congress
Khajuri SC Das Paresh Bangla Congress
Contai North None Subodh Gopal Guchhait Praja Socialist Party
Contai South None Das Sudhir Praja Socialist Party
Ramnagar None Balailal Das Mahapatra Praja Socialist Party
Egra None Pahati Bibhuti Praja Socialist Party
Mugberia None Roy Chaudhury Biswabrata Bangla Congress
Pataspur None K.d. Mahapatra Communist Party of India
Pingla None Gouranga Samanta Communist Party of India
Debra None Bijoy Krishna Samanta Indian National Congress
Keshpur SC Gangapada Kuar Bangla Congress
Garhbeta East SC Krishna Prasad Duley Communist Party of India
Garhbeta West None Roy Soroj Communist Party of India
Salbani None Amulya Ratan Mahata Bangla Congress
Midnapur None Kamakhya Charan Ghosh Communist Party of India
Kharagpur None Gan Singh Sohanpal Indian National Congress
Kharagpur Local None Deben Das Communist Party of India
Narayangarh None Laha Mihirkumar Bangla Congress
Dantan None Debendra Nath Das Bangla Congress
Keshiari ST Budhan Chandra Tudu Indian National Congress
Nayagarm ST Hansda Jagatrati Bangla Congress
Gopiballavpur None Kar Dhananjoy Samyukta Socialist Party
Jhargram None De Panchkari Bangla Congress
Binpur ST Saren Joyram Communist Party of India
Banduan ST Budheswar Majhi Indian National Congress
Manbazar None Girish Mahato Lok Sewak Sangh
Balarampur ST Gobardhan Majhi Lok Sewak Sangh
Arsa None Dahan Chandra Kuiri All India Forward Bloc
Jhalda None Debendra Nath Mahata Indian National Congress
Jaipur None Ram Krishna Mahato Indian National Congress
Purulia None Bibhuti Bhusan Das Gupta Lok Sewak Sangh
Para SC Tinkori Bouri Bangla Congress
Raghunathpur SC Hari Pado Bouri Socialist Unity Centre of India
Kashipur None Prabir Kumar Mallick Communist Party of India
Hura None Saharendra Ojha Lok Sewak Sangh
Taldangra None Mohini Mohan Panda Communist Party of India
Raipur ST Bhabatosh Soren Bangla Congress
Ranibandh ST Suchand Saren Communist Party of India
Indpur SC Gour Lohar Bangla Congress
Chhatna None Singh Sudarson Samyukta Socialist Party
Gangajalghati SC Mandal Nabadurga Bangla Congress
Barjora None Aswini Kumar Raj Communist Party of India
Bankura None Bireswar Ghosh Communist Party of India
Onda None Anil Kumar Mukherjee All India Forward Bloc
Vishnupur None Sasthidas Sarkar Bangla Congress
Kotulpur None Niranjan Bhadra Bangla Congress
Indas SC Abani Kumar Saha Bangla Congress
Sonamukhi SC Sukhendu Khan Communist Party of India
Hirapur None Bamapada Mukherjee Communist Party of India
Kulti None Tarak Nath Chakraborty Samyukta Socialist Party
Barabani None Sunil Basu Roy Communist Party of India
Asansol None Lokes Ghosh Communist Party of India
Raniganj None Haradhan Roy Communist Party of India
Jamuria SC Amarendra Mondal Indian National Congress
Ukhra SC Lakhan Bagdi Communist Party of India
Durgapur None Dilip Kumar Mazumdar Communist Party of India
Faridpur None Manoranjan Baksi Bangla Congress
Ausgram SC Krishna Chandra Halder Communist Party of India
Bhatar None Aswini Roy Communist Party of India
Galsi None Phakir Chandra Roy Independent
Burdwan North None Debarata Datta Communist Party of India
Burdwan South None Benoy Krishna Choudhuri Communist Party of India
Khandaghosh SC Gobardhan Pakray Samyukta Socialist Party
Raina None Guha Panchu Gopal Communist Party of India
Jamalpur SC Basudeb Malik Bangla Congress
Memari None Konar Benoy Krishna Communist Party of India
Kalna None Hare Krishna Konar Communist Party of India
Nadanghat None S. Abdul Mansur Habibullah Communist Party of India
Manteswar None K.n. Hazra Choudhury Communist Party of India
Purbasthali None Mollah Humayun Kabir Communist Party of India
Katwa None Thakur Nityananda Indian National Congress
Mangalkot None Nikhilananda Sar Communist Party of India
Ketugram SC Ramgati Mondal Communist Party of India
Nanur SC Banamali Das Communist Party of India
Bolpur None Pannalal Das Gupta Independent
Labhpur None Radhanath Chttoraj Communist Party of India
Dubrajpur None Bhakti Bhusan Mondal All India Forward Bloc
Rajnagar SC Siddheswar Mandal All India Forward Bloc
Suri None Protiva Mukherjee Socialist Unity Centre of India
Mahammad Bazar None Dwarika Prasonna Roy Bangla Congress
Mayureswar SC Panchanan Let Communist Party of India
Rampurhat None Sasanka Sekhar Mongal All India Forward Bloc
Hansan SC Mondal Mrityunjoy All India Forward Bloc
Nalhati None Golam Mamiuddin Independent
Murarai None Bazle Ahmad Socialist Unity Centre of India

References

  1. ^ "West Bengal 1969". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. ^ The Times of India News Service. "65 Straight Contests in W. Bengal". ProQuest. The Times of India. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  3. ^ Subrata K. Mitra (7 May 2007). The Puzzle of India's Governance: Culture, Context and Comparative Theory. Routledge. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-134-27493-2.
  4. ^ "As a debutant MP, Pranab quickly earned the respect of his Rajya Sabha colleagues".
  5. ^ Ramashray Roy (1975). The Uncertain Verdict: A Study of the 1969 Elections in Four Indian States. University of California Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-520-02475-5.
  6. ^ "West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election, 1969". Election Commission of India. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
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