The idea of a constituent assembly was first proposed in 1934 by M.N. Roy. However, the actual constituent assembly was formed in 1946 on the basis of the cabinet mission plan.
Constituent Assembly of India – Background
- In 1934, M N Roy first proposed the idea of a constituent assembly.
- The demand was taken up by the Congress Party in 1935 as an official demand.
- The British accepted this in the August Offer of 1940.
- Under the Cabinet Mission plan of 1946, elections were held for the formation of the constituent assembly.
- The members of this assembly were elected indirectly, i.e., by the members of the provincial assemblies by the method of a single transferable vote of proportional representation.
- The constituent assembly was formed for the purpose of writing a constitution for independent India.
Composition of Constituent Assembly
- Initially, the number of members was 389. After partition, some of the members went to Pakistan and the number came down to 299. Out of this, 229 were from the British provinces and 70 were nominated from the princely states.
- Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was the first temporary chairman of the Constituent Assembly. Later, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President and its Vice President was Harendra Coomar Mookerjee. BN Rau was the constitutional advisor.