THE INDIAN FINANCE BILL 359
where the Untouchables sometimes form a microscopic minority of
5 per cent as against a majority of 95 per cent. Hindus, it would be idiotic for any man to think that the final election was any test as to who represented whom. The real test is the test of the primary election. For the primary election is an election through a separate electorate of the Scheduled Castes. What has happened in the primary elections. Let me give my friends opposite some idea of the results of the primary elections. In the Punjab there were three constituencies in which a primary election took place. In Bombay there were also three constituencies in which primary elections were held.
Shri Mohan Lal Saksena : Out of how many ?
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : Let me finish.
Mr. President : Let him proceed.
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : In the Central Provinces there were four. In the Madras Presidency ten, in the United Provinces two. (Interruption). If my Honourable friend wants to know the fact, he ought to know that a primary election is not compulsory. Unless five people stand there cannot be a primary election and no Scheduled Caste wants a primary election because it involves a lot of expense and we have no black market money to finance it (Interruptions). In all there have been
22 primary elections. They were all contested by the Congress. I want to tell the House that out of the 22 primary elections, 19 have been won by the Scheduled Castes Federation.
Diwan Chaman Lall : How many in the Punjab ?
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : Wait a minute. In the Bombay Presidency—I cannot give the whole lot of figures because my time is short..........
Pandit Govind Malaviya : It may go against you !
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : In the Bombay City there were two Constituencies in which the primary election was fought. One was the Byculla constituency. The Scheduled Castes Federation candidate got 11,334 votes and the Congress candidate got 2,096 votes. In the Suburban Constituency of Bombay City the Scheduled Castes Federation candidate got 12,899 votes and the Congress candidates got only 2,088. In the Central Provinces—I again take two constituencies for illustration.....
Sri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : The black market did not prevail.