The Constituent Assembly

The essentials

The members of the Constituent Assembly were not elected by universal adult franchise. They were chosen on the basis of the provincial elections of 1946: the provincial legislatures elected representatives to the Assembly. The Congress dominated the Assembly; the Muslim League chose to boycott it, and after Partition the Assembly became even more dominated by the Congress. Yet the Congress itself included people of very different views, and the debates were lively. The Assembly held eleven sessions with sittings spread over 165 days. Its discussions were also influenced by public opinion, as suggestions were invited from the public.

Key points

• Prominent members: Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad (President of the Assembly), B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman of the Drafting Committee), K.M. Munshi and Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar.
• B.N. Rau was the constitutional adviser, and S.N. Mukherjee, the chief draughtsman, put complex proposals into clear legal language.
• Patel worked mostly behind the scenes, helping to draft reports and reconcile opposing views.
• Objectives Resolution (moved by Nehru on 13 December 1946): India would be an "Independent Sovereign Republic"; it guaranteed citizens justice, equality and freedom, and promised safeguards for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and depressed and other backward classes.
• Nehru said the Assembly should draw on the democratic traditions of the world but adapt them to Indian conditions.
• Communist member Somnath Lahiri criticised the shadow of British imperialism over the Assembly's work.
• The Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950.

Common mistakes

• Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee; Rajendra Prasad was President of the Assembly.