In the assembly elections of March 1957, what happened to the Congress party in Kerala?
A) They faced a bitter defeat
B) They emerged victorious
C) They formed a coalition government
D) They boycotted the elections
Choose the correct answer from the given options:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option 1 - A
A) They faced a bitter defeat
In 1957, the Congress party in Kerala experienced a significant setback as they faced defeat in the assembly elections. During these elections, the Communist Party emerged victorious by securing the largest number of seats in the Kerala legislature. With 60 seats out of 126 and the support of five independents, the Communist Party leader, E. M. S. Namboodiripad, was invited by the governor to form the ministry. This marked the historic moment when a Communist party government came to power through democratic elections, a first in the world.
Following their loss of power in the state, the Congress party initiated a 'liberation struggle' against the elected Communist government. The Communist Party had promised to implement radical and progressive policy measures, but the Congress party claimed that the agitation against the government was led by vested interests and religious organizations.
In 1959, the Congress government at the Centre made a controversial decision by dismissing the Communist government in Kerala under Article 356 of the Constitution. This action sparked widespread debate and criticism, as it was considered the first instance of the alleged misuse of constitutional emergency powers and was highly controversial.