Does Congress Represent All? - Page 179

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DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES

II

L ET me next proceed to examine the Congress claim to, represent the Untouchables. This claim also can now be determined by reference to the results of the elections that took place in 1937. A correct understanding of the results of the electoral contests between Congress and the Untouchables, I fear, will not be possible to those who have no knowledge of the electoral plan devised to give representation to the Untouchables. I therefore feel it necessary to explain in the first instance the Indian Electoral system, particularly for the benefit of the foreigner. It may be described by reference to the four elements of an Electoral System, namely, (1) Electorates which is the Indian term for constituencies, (2) Right to vote,

(3) Right to stand as a candidate for election and (4) Rules for determining who is a successful candidate.

  1. There are two sorts of Electorates recognized by the Government of India Act, 1935,

(1) Non-Territorial.

(2) Territorial.

  1. Non-Territorial Electorates are Electorates which are designed to give representation to special interests such as Landlords, Chambers of Commerce, Trade Unions, etc.

  2. Territorial Electorates fall into three categories :—

( i ) Separate Territorial Electorates known in their abbreviated form as Separate Electorates.

( ii ) General Territorial Electorates.

( iii ) Joint Territorial Electorates with Reserved Seats, commonly spoken of as Joint Electorates.

  1. Separate Electorates are Communal Electorates. They are designed to give representation to specified Communities, namely, Muslims, Indian Christians, Europeans and Anglo-Indians. The voters of each of these Communities in a given area are grouped into one Electorate, separate from the rest. They elect a voter of their Community as their representative exclusively by their own votes. The governing feature of a separate electorate is that in an election through a separate electorate only voters of a Community can vote and stand for election. If it is a Muslim Electorate the voter and the
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