Third General Elections, 1962.-  A major improvement in the matter of elections in the State this time was in regard to the period of poll.  While it took nearly 19 days to complete the poll during the second general elections, the poll this time was held and completed on a single day on February 24, 1962, throughout the State, except in Kulu and Seraj Constituencies , where on account of the areas being snow-bound and accessible the poll was deferred and held later towards and end of April.  Punjab was the only State which had the distinction of having a single-day poll both for the Parliamentary and Assembly elections.

 

           In 1961, the Parliament decided to abolish the double-member constituencies for the Legislative Assemblies as well as for the House of the People and as such passed the Two-member Constituencies (Abolition) Act ( 1 of 1961) for this purpose.  Under the Act, the Election Commission was empowered to divide even double-member constituencies into single-member constituencies, delimit the extent, decide in which of them the seat shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes.  As  a result of this, one Parliamentary constituency and 10 Assembly constituencies were formed in the district.

 

           Out of the total population of 8,71,130 in 1961, the number of electors in the district was 7,11,708.

 

 

Lok Sabha Constituency 1

 

           Hoshiarpur was the only Parliamentary constituency in the district in the Third General Elections, 1962.  The Congress candidate won the seat from this constituency.  The total number of electors for the constituency was 4,84,314 out of which 3,19,433 voted.  The position of the valid voted polled by each contesting party was as under :

 

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

Congress

 

1,28,953

41.80

Republican Party of India

1,18.652

38.50

Jan Sangh

 

    31,008

10.00

Swatanra

 

   16,589

5.40

Independents

 

    13,382

4.30

Total

 

3,08,584

        100

 

Report on General Elections in Punjab, 1962 (Chandigarh, 1963) p. 61

 

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies

 

There were 10 constituencies for the Vidhan Sabha in the district, viz. Mukerian, Dasuya, Hariana, Hoshiarpur, Jahan Khelan, Una, Mahalpur, Garhshankar and Anandpur.  Form these constituencies, 9 Congress and 1 Independent candidates were elected.  The total number of valid votes polled by each contesting party is given below :

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

 

Congress

 

2,12,317

49.10

Republican Party of India

 

   50,078

11.80

Comminists

 

   38,135

8.95

Jan Sangh

 

   19,220

4.51

Praja Socialist Party

 

   15,110

3.54

Swatantra

 

     5,510

1.30

Independents

 

   85,277

20.00

Total

 

4,25,647

        100

 

 

           Fourth General Elections, 1967.-  The general elections held in 1967 were the first in the new State of Punjab after its reorganization on November 1, 1966 and were the fourth in the country.  The constituencies delimited in 1965 were  subjected to further delimitation in November 1966.  The Hoshiarpur District was divided into 8 Punjab Vidhan Sabha constituencies and one Parliamentary constituency.  Out of the total population of 8,71,130 (1961 Census) of the district, the number of electors was 4,94,190.  As in the last general elections, the poll in all the constituencies was held under marking system of voting and completed in one day on February 19, 1967.

 

Lok Sabha Constituency

 

           There was only one Lok Sabha constituency in the district, viz. Hoshiarpur, form which the Congress candidate was elected.  The total number of valid votes polled by the each of the contesting parties in the district was as under :

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

 

Congress

 

95,877

29.26

Jan Sangh

 

94,366

28.80

Comminists Party of India (Marxist)

 

69,410

21.18

Samyukta Socialist Party

 

17,399

  5.31

Swatantra

 

10,676

  3.25

Independents

 

39,995

12.20

Total

 

3,27,723

100

 

(Source; Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh)

 

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies 1

 

           There were 8 Punjab Vidhan constituencies (including 2 reserved for members of the Scheduled Castes) in the District, viz, Balachpur, Garhshankar, Mahalpur(Scheduled Castes) Hoshiarpur, Sham Chaurasi (Scheduled Cates), Tanda, Dasuya, and Mukerian.  Form these constituencies, 4 Congress,1 Socialist and 3 Independent candidate were elected.  The total number of valid votes polled by each contesting party is given below :

 

1.       Report on the Mid–term General Elections to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, 1969 (Chandigarh, 1971), pp. 45-46


 

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

 

Congress

 

1,21,084

35.80

Akali Dal (Sant Group)

 

  20,318

6.01

Jan Sangh

 

  29,146

8.62

Comminists Party of India

 

  13,478

3.99

Comminists Party of India (Marxist)

 

  11,241

3.32

Akali Dal (Master  Group)

 

  10,477

3.10

Socialists

 

  16,027

4.74

Praja Socialist Party

 

      691

0.20

Swatantra

 

      344

0.10

Independents

 

1,15,397

34.12

Total

 

3,38,203

100

 

              Mid-Term Poll 1969.-  The first meeting for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, constituted as a result of the fourth general elections, was held on March 20, 1967.  In the normal course its tenure would have lasted for five years, i.e. upto March 19, 1972 as provided in Article 172 of the Constitution of India.  The party position, after the said elections, was such that no single political party has absolute majority in the Vidhan Sabha of 104 members.  Some of the political parties, namely, the Akali Dal (Sant Group), the Jan Sangh, the Republican Party and the Right Communists joined together to form People’s United Front, which formed its Ministry.  The Ministry assumed office on March 8, 1967.  After some time a game of defections started and then Education Minster in the Ministry, defected along with a few other M.L.A.s. of the Akali Dal, and formed United Front Ministry on November 25, 1967, with the support of some Independents and the Congress Legislative Party.  The relationship between the Ministry and the Congress Legislative Party – its main supporter – did not, however, continue to be smooth for long and ultimately, the Congress Party withdrew its support from the United Front Ministry. This led to the tendering of registration by the Chief Minster.  As a result a situation was created in which no single party or workable alliance or parties could provide a stable government.  In the circumstances as recommended by the Governor, Punjab, the President’s rule was proclaimed in the state from the August 23, 1968.  Thus, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha constituted in 1967 stood dissolved necessitating a mid-term general elections so as to constitute a new Vidhan Sabha.

 

           The poll throughout the State was held on a single day on February 9, 1969.  The counting of votes was started on 10th February and completed on the 11th February.  out of the total population of 8,71,130 (1961 census) of the district, the number of electors was 5,42,025.

 

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies1

 

           There were 8 Punjab Vidhan constituencies (including 2 reserved for members of the Scheduled Castes) in the District, viz, Balachpur, Garhshankar, Mahalpur(Scheduled Castes) Hoshiarpur, Sham Chaurasi (Scheduled Cates), Tanda, Dasuya, and Mukerian.  Form these constituencies, 5 Congress, 2 Akali and 1 Socialist candidates were elected.  The number of valid votes polled by each contesting party is given below :

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

 

Congress

 

1,35,847

37.94

Akali Dal

 

   41,119

11.48

Jan Sangh

 

   55,712

15.56

Comminists Party of India

 

   19,797

5.53

Comminists Party of India (Marxist)

 

   15,593

4.35

Socialists

 

   16,155

4.51

Swatantra

 

   17,308

4.83

Independents

 

   56,563

15.80

Total

 

3,58,094

100

 

           Bye-election to the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha Constituency 1969.-  This bye-election was necessitated after the Supreme Court of India on April 23, 1968 declared as void the election of a sitting Congress candidate.  It was held in as single day on February9, 1969.  The total number of electors in the district was 5,10,585.  The Jan Sangh candidate won the seat.  The total number of valid votes polled by each  of contesting parties in the district was as follows :

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

 

Jan Sangh

 

1,63,071

48.00

Congress

 

1,11,232

33.00

Republican  Party of India

 

   33,986

10.00

Republican Party of India (Ambedkar)

 

   10,766

3.20

Independents

 

   19,626

5.80

Total

 

3,38,681

100

 

(Source: Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh)

Report on the Mid–term General Elections to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, 1969 (Chandigarh, 1971), pp. 60-61

 

           Fifth General Elections to the Lok Sabha 1971.-  There was only one Lok Sabha constituency in the district, viz. Hoshiarpur.  The Congress candidate was declared successful from this constituency. The total number of electors in the district was 5,24,148.  The total number of valid votes polled by each of the contesting parties in the district was as under :

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

 

Congress

 

172,451

59.92

Akali Dal

 

71,616

22.38

Jan Sangh

 

38,560

12.06

Samyukta Socialist Party

 

23,348

7.29

Independents

 

13,883

4.35

Total

 

3,19,858

100

 

(Source: Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh)

           Fifth General Elections to the Vidhan Sabha, 1972.- The fifth general elections to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha were necessitated due to the premature dissolution of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha constituted in March, 1969.  It was for the second time that the President’s rule was imposed in the State.  In the wake of President’s rule emergency was declared due to Undo-Pakistan Conflict in 1971. The preparation for the conduct of new general elections had, therefore, to be made under the shadow of emergency.  The poll throughout the State was held on a single day i.e. on March 11, 1972.

 

           There were 8 Punjab Vidhan constituencies including 2 reserved for members of the Scheduled Castes in the District, viz, Balachpur, Garhshankar, Mahalpur (Scheduled Castes) Hoshiarpur, Sham Chaurasi (Scheduled Cates), Tanda, Dasuya, and Mukerian.the total number of electors in the district was 5,83,919.  Form these constituencies, 6Congress,1 Communist and 1 Independent candidates were elected.  The total number of valid votes polled in favour of each of the each contesting party in the contesting parties in the district is a under :

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

 

Congress

 

1,67,648

45.97

Akali Dal

 

38,236

10.48

Jan Sangh

 

14,920

4.09

Communist Party of India

 

24,450

6.70

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

 

19,332

5.30

Socialist

 

19,315

5.30

Independents

 

80,806

22.16

Total

 

3,64,707

100

 

           Bye-election to the Dasuya Constituency for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, 1975.- This bye-election was held on account of the vacancy caused by death of a sitting Congress M.L.A. on August 8, 1974.  The bye-election was held on May 25, 1975 in which again the Congress candidate was declared successful.  The total number of electors for the constituency was 78,672.  The number of the valid votes polled by each the contesting parties was as under :

 

Name of party

Total No. of Valid Votes polled

Percentage

 

Congress

 

33,219

57.40

Akali Dal

 

21,892

37.80

All India Labour Party

 

2,020

3.50

Independents

 

757

1.30

Total

 

57,888

100

(Source: Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh)

 

 

(b)   Political Parties and Organizations

 

A democratic government cannot work without the presence of party system.  Political parties are the life-blood of democracy.  For the efficient and smooth working o government, solid opposition is very much necessary.  In India, since independence (1947) here is dominance of one single party – Congress – which is a well – organised organization.

 

The essence of parliamentary democracy is party government and a party government cannot succeed without an organised party system.  In India, we have a multi-party system like France.  The history of political parties in India is largely history of the Indian National Movement.  The earliest were the local societies like Savajanik Sabha, Poona, the Mahajan Sabha, Madras, the Indian Association, Calcutta, etc.  Soon, however, the need for an all-India organization was left and the result was the establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

 

Towards the beginning of the twentieth century, there came into being two wings within the Congress, namely the right wing and the extremists.  The right wing called, ‘moderate’ stood for the existing methodology of making speeches and passing resolutions at periodic sessions.  The other wing was known as the extremist.  In 1906, there came into being a communal party, namely the Muslim League.   Its membership was open to the Muslims only.  For a period of 30 years after 1906, the Congress, the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha constituted the main sections of political opinion in India.

 

After 1935, there came parties of the left such as Republican, Socialist Party, the Forward Block, the Peasants and Workers Party, etc.  A Terrorist party which had existed from the early years of the present century Bengal, Punjab and else-where, liquidated itself after the formation of the Congress ministries in the provinces in 19371.

 

After the achievement of independence in 1947, many political parties came upon the scene.  Now the main political parties are, the Congress, the Congress (O), Bhartya jan Sangh, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Samyukt Socialist Party, Praja Socialist Party, Swatantra, Bhartya Lok Dal, Bhartya Krantiya Dal and many other parties at State level.

 

           A brief description of the parties which have their branches in the district is given below :

 

All-India Parties

 

           Indian National Congress. – The Indian National Congress is the most important and largest political party in India.  Founded in 1885 for the purpose of mobilizing public opinion on the problems of the country, it became the most powerful instrument of nation’s struggle for freedom.  In 1947, India achieved independence and the Congress party became the ruling party in the country.

 

           The main objectives of the party since independence have been to set up a socialistic pattern of society ; to raise the standard of living of the downtrodden ; to defend secularism ; to provide basic requirements to people and to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.  Since independence, the Congress party has taken several steps to ameliorate the lot of the poor people.

 

            In all the elections to the Lok Sabha held after independence, the Congress party won the seat earmarked for the district, except in the bye-election of  1969.  In Vidhan Sabha elections too, this party has been winning most of the seats.  The party commands great influence among the people and is popular both in urban and rural areas.

 

           The District Congress Committee was formed at Hoshiarpur in 1917.  There area also City Congress Committees in different towns in the district.

 

           Communist Party of India. – The Communist Party of India was founded in 1925, but was soon declared an illegal organization.  The ban on the party was lifted in 1943, when it supported the Government in prosecution of the World War II./  At the district level, the party was founded in 1935-36.  In 1961, after Vijaywada Congress, the Communist Party of India was split up and the new party was formed and named as the Communist Party (Marxist).

 

           The main object of the Communist Party of India is to establish a people’s state led by the working class for the realization of the dictatorship of the proletariat.  It is a voluntary organization of the workers, peasants and of toiling people in general, devoted to the cause of socialism and communism.  The party could not capture any seat for the Lok Sabha set in the district since the first general elections in 1951-52.  However, it won one Vidhan Sabha seat in the First, two in the Second and one in the Fifth General Elections, respectively.

1. Mehta, Narinder, Indian Political System (Jullundur, 1975), Chapter 24, pp. 73-79

 

           Communist Party of India (Marxist). – The Communist Party of India (Marxist) was formed as a result of the split in the undivided Communist Party of India in 1961.  It stands for socialism and communism through the establishment of the state of dictatorship of the proletariat.  In all its activities, the party is guided by the philosophy and principles of Marxism-Leninism.  The party is represented in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Punjab Vidhan Sabha from other districts but it has never won any seat in the district either for the Lok Sabha or for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

 

           Praja Socialist Party. – The Praja Socialist Party came into being as a result of the merger of the Socialist Party and the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party in 1952.  Both these parties were the off-spring of the Indian National Congress.  The party aims at achieving by democratic and peaceful means a socialist society free from social, political and economic exploitation of man by man and nation by nation.  The party won one seat in the general elections in 1967 and one in the Mid-Term Poll in 1969 to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in the district.

 

           Republican Party of India. - The party was formed as successor of the Scheduled Castes Federation of India.  It could not win any seat in the district during the Fourth General Elections in 1967 and Mid-Term Poll in 1969 to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, though the party put up its candidates in these elections.

 

           Swatantra Party. – Founded in 1959, Swantantra party is pledged to social justice and equality of opportunity for all the people without distinction of religion, caste, occupation or political affiliation.  It stands for the principle of  maximum freedom for the individual and minimum interference by the State consistent with the obligation to prevent and punish anti-social activities.  The party has not been bale to capture any seat either for the Lok Sabha or for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from the district  in any election held since 1951-52.

 

           Bhartiya Jan Sangh. -  This is an all-India party having its urban and rural units.  It was formed on the eve of the First General Elections, 1951-52.  The party stands for the re-building of Indian on the basis of Hindu Cultural heritage and tradition i.e. Bhartiya Sanskriti and Maryada.  It believes in the principle of one country, one nation, one culture and one national idea.  The party has been putting up candidates in almost all the elections in this district but it could win only one Lok Sabha seat, in the Bye-election held in 1969.

 

State Parties

 

           From among the State parties, mention may be made only of the Shiromani Akali Dal.

 

           Shiromani Akali Dal. – The Shiromani Akali Dal was formed on December 14, 1920, during the days of the Gurdwara Reform Movement with headquarters in the Golden Temple, Amritsar.  It was instrumental in bringing about major reforms in the management of Sikh shrines and bringing them under the control of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.  It emerged as a full-fledged political party in Punjab during the 1936-37 elections held under the Government of India Act, 1935.  The party continues to function as a religious and social organization.  The party has been contesting both the Lok Sabha and the Punjab Vidhan Sabha seats since the first general elections in the district.  It won only 2 out of the 8 Vidhan Sabha seats in the mid-term poll in 1969.

 

           The position of the different parties in the Lok Sabha and the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in the district on the basis of general election held from time to time is given in the following statement :-

Party position in Lok Sabha and Punjab Vidhan Sabha Elections in the Hoshiarpur District

 

 

 

 

Name of the Party

LOK SABHA

Punjab Vidhan Sabha

No. of seats won

No. of seats won

First General Electi-ons, 1951-52

Second General Electi-ons,  1957

Third General Electi-ons,  1962

Fourth General Electi -ons,  1967

Bye-Elect- ions, 1969

Fifth General Electi- ons,  1971

First General Electi- ons, 1951-52

Two-bye electi- ons

Second General Electi- ons,  1957

Third General Electi-ons,  1962

Fourth General Electi-ons, 1967

Mid-Term electi-ons, 1969

Fifth General Elect-ons, 1971

 

ALL INDIA PARTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indian National Congress

2

1

1

1

-

1

9

1+1

6

9

4

5

6

Communist Party of India

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

2

-

-

-

1

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Praja Socialist Party

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

-

Republican Party of India

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Swantantra Party

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Bhartiya Jan Sangh

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

STATE PARTIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Akali Dal

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

Janta Party

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Forward Block

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Independents including unrecognized parties

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

1

3

-

1

Total No. of seats in the district

2

1

1

1

1

1

11

2

10

10

8

8

8

 

 

(Source : Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh; and his publications entitled Reports on General Elections, Punjab, 1951-52, 1957, 1962, 1967 and 1969)

 

(c)  News papers and Periodicals

 

           The history of the press in India, in fact, started with the coming of the British in India.  Before their advent, there existed no press at all ; nor did the natives have any idea about the value and significance of the news and their publication.  It was due to our contact with the British that soon after their settlement in the Presidency towns, there sprang up numerous journals and newspapers on the shores of India1.

 

           The history of the press in the Hoshiarpur District has never been significant.  However, a number of periodicals are published in the district in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Sanskrit, which deal with the news items and current affairs, and contain information on science, history, literature, etc.  However, no daily newspaper is published in the district.

 

           The particulars in respect of the periodicals, published in the district are given below :

 

Periodically published in the Hoshiarpur District as on December 31, 1972

 

Serial No.

Name of the periodically

Place of publication

Year when started

Language

Circulation

WEEKLIES

1

Janta Janardhan

Hoshiarpur

1962

Hindi

1,575

2

Hoshiarpur Times

Do

1968

Urdu & Hindi

1,520

3

Parman

Do

1970

Hindi & Urdu

..

FORTNIGHTLIES

4

Kshatriyatej

Hoshiarpur

1934

Hindi & Urdu

900

MONTHLIES

5

Kick to Corruption

Do 

1969

English

..

6

Adrash Yuvak Tarang

Do

1971

Hindi

..

7

Vishwa Jyoti

Do 

1952

Do

1,560

8

Indian Chemist

Do

1963

English, Hindi & Punjabi

2,517

QUARTERLIES

9

Vishva Snskritam

Hoshiarpur

1963

Sanskrit, Hindi & English

194

10

Patrika Government

Tanda Urmar

1970

Hindi & English

1,600

11

College Tanda Urmar Akash

Tanda Urmar

1957

English, Hindi & Punjabi

1,813

1. Sikri, S. L., Constitutional History of  India (Jullundur, 1960), p. 339

 

HALF YEARLIES

12

V.V.R.I. News Bulletin

Hoshiarpur

1965

English

..

13

Arya Kumar

Do

1962

English, Hindi& Punjabi

1,800

14

Government College Hoshiarpur Magazine

Do

1953

English, Hindi & Punjabi & Urdu

..

ANNUALS

15

Babbar Khalsa

Garhshankar

1971

Punjabi, English and Hindi

..

16

Gobind Nidhi

Mahalpur

1965

English, Punjabi and Hindi

1,000

17

Hindu National Collge Hariana Magazine

Hariana

1965

English, Hindi, Punjabi & Sanskrit

..

18

Shiksshodaya

Hoshiarpur

1967

English, Hindi & Punjabi

..

 

(Press in India, 1973, 17th Annual Report of the Register of Newspapers for India under the Press and Registration of Books Act. Part II (Delhi, 1975), pp. 356-85)

 

The following newspapers ad periodically, published outside the district, are in fairly large circulation in the district : -

 

Newspapers and periodically published outside but fairly large circulation in the district

 

SN

Name of newspaper/ periodically

Place of publications

Language

Periodically

NEWSPAPERS

1

The Tribune

Chandigarh

English

Daily

2

Indian Express

New Delhi

Do

Do

3

Hindustan Times

Do 

Do

Do

4

Times of India

Do

Do

Do

5

Hindi Milap

Jullundur City

Hindi

Do

6

Jan Pradeep

Do

Do

Do

7

Vir Pratap

Do

Do

Do

8

Punjab Kesari

Do

Do

Do

9

Akali Patrika

Do

Punjabi

Do

10

Nawan Zamana

Do

Do

Do

11

Hind Samachar

Do

Urdu

Do

12

Milap

Do

Do

Do

13

Pratap

Do

Do

Do

14

Pradeep

Do

Do

Do

PERIODICALLY

1

Illustrated Weekly

Bombay

English

Weekly

2

Filmfare

Do

Do

Fortnightly

3

Femina

Do

Do

Do

4

Dharmyug

Do

Hindi

Weekly

5

Sarita

New Delhi

Do

Fortnightly

6

Mukta

Do

Do

Do

7

Sarika

Bombay

Hindi

Do

8

Sushma

New Delhi

Do

Monthly

9

Preet Lari

Prit Nagar         (District Amritsar)

Punjabi

Do

10

Tasvir

Jullundur City

Do

Do

11

Drishti

Do

Do

Do

12

Biswin Sadi

Delhi

Urdu

Do

13

Sharma

Do

Do

Do

 

 

 

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