United Front Election
Elections 1954 were held in March 1954 under the India Act of 1935, and on the basis of universal adult franchise. The contesting parties in the elections were the ruling muslim league and a five-party alliance called united front. The major partners of the Front were the Awami Muslim League led by Maulana abdul hamid khan bhasani, the krishak sramik party by ak fazlul huq, Nezam-e-Islam led by Maulana Atahar Ali, and Ganatantri Dal led by haji mohammad danesh.
In the elections held from 8 to 12 March, 1285 candidates contested for 304 seats, 5 seats having been won uncontested. Of them, 986 were Muslim candidates for 228 seats, 101 Hindu candidates for 30 seats, 151 scheduled caste candidates for 36 seats. The seats for the non-Muslims were contested by candidates mainly from the Pakistan National Congress, United Progressive Party and the Scheduled Caste Federation. The total electors numbered 1,97,48,568 of whom 73,44,216 (37.19%) cast their votes. The lower turnout was ascribed to poor communications in rural areas and the reluctance of conservative Muslim women to come out of their houses.
The elections resulted in a landslide victory for the United Front which won 228 seats in a House of 309 (including nine reserved seats for women). On the other hand, the ruling Muslim League, the party which was in power directly or indirectly ever since 1937, managed to get only 7 seats. Chief Minister Nurul Amin was defeated by a young law student, Khaleque Newaz. Of the total of 228 elected Front members, 143 belonged to Awami Muslim League, 48 to Krishak Sramaik Party, 22 to Nezam-e-Islam, 13 to Ganatantri Dal and 2 to Khilafat-e-Rabbani Party. Of the non-Muslim seats, Congress got 25, Scheduled Caste Federation 27, and the United Front of the Minorities 13.
The United Front campaigned on an election manifesto consisting of 21-points. Among these points were the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan, abolition of zamindari system,
In the elections held from 8 to 12 March, 1285 candidates contested for 304 seats, 5 seats having been won uncontested. Of them, 986 were Muslim candidates for 228 seats, 101 Hindu candidates for 30 seats, 151 scheduled caste candidates for 36 seats. The seats for the non-Muslims were contested by candidates mainly from the Pakistan National Congress, United Progressive Party and the Scheduled Caste Federation. The total electors numbered 1,97,48,568 of whom 73,44,216 (37.19%) cast their votes. The lower turnout was ascribed to poor communications in rural areas and the reluctance of conservative Muslim women to come out of their houses.
The elections resulted in a landslide victory for the United Front which won 228 seats in a House of 309 (including nine reserved seats for women). On the other hand, the ruling Muslim League, the party which was in power directly or indirectly ever since 1937, managed to get only 7 seats. Chief Minister Nurul Amin was defeated by a young law student, Khaleque Newaz. Of the total of 228 elected Front members, 143 belonged to Awami Muslim League, 48 to Krishak Sramaik Party, 22 to Nezam-e-Islam, 13 to Ganatantri Dal and 2 to Khilafat-e-Rabbani Party. Of the non-Muslim seats, Congress got 25, Scheduled Caste Federation 27, and the United Front of the Minorities 13.
The United Front campaigned on an election manifesto consisting of 21-points. Among these points were the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan, abolition of zamindari system,