154 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The Charter of demands made on the eve of Mahatma Gandhi’s fast
“Part One :—Representation in the Legislature.
(A) The Depressed Classes shall have the following number of seats in the provincial Legislatures :—
As per award
Madras .............. 30 out of 215 18
Bombay .............. 16 out of 200 10
Bengal .............. 50 out of 250 10
Punjab .............. 10 out of 175 9
U. P. .............. 40 out of 228 12
Behar & Orissa .............. 20 out of 175 7
C. P &Berar .............. 20 out of 112 10
Assam .............. 11 out of 108 4
(B) The method of election to those seats shall be by Joint Electorates and Reserved seats, provided that for the first ten years in 18 single constituencies in Madras, in 10 single Constituencies in Bombay, Central Proviences and Bengal, in
4 single Constituencies in Assam, in 7 single constituencies in Behar and Orissa, in 5 single constituencies in Punjab and in 12 single constituencies in U. P. there shall be held before the General Election a Primary Election of the voters of the Depressed Classes for electing 2 persons to constitute a panel who thereafter shall contest on behalf of the Depressed Classes in the Joint Electorate.
After Ten years
(C) After the first 10 years the system of Primary Election shall cease to be in operation and all seats without exception shall continue to be filled by direct election on the system of Joint Electorates and Reserved Seats.
(D) The right of the Depressed Classes to Special Representation through Joint Electorates and Reserved Seats shall be continued to them for a further period of 15 years. After the said period the matter shall be settled on the basis of referendum to the voters of the Depressed Classes.