Elections to the Manipur Territorial Council were held between 25 February and 11 March 1957. It was the first council election since the merger of Manipur with the Indian Union. The election produced a fractured outcome in which the Indian National Congress became the largest party but without holding a majority in the council. Eventually the Congress could obtain a majority of seats due to migration of Independent council members into the party fold.
After Manipur merged with the Indian Union in 1949, it became a 'Part C' state without a legislature under the 1950 Constitution. In 1954 there was a mass protest movement in Manipur demanding an elected state government. With the passing of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 Manipur was upgraded to Union Territory on 1 November 1956, to be administered by a Chief Commissioner and a Territorial Council.[1] [2] [3] The provisions for the Territorial Council election was set out in the Union Territorial Council Act, 1956, passed by the Indian parliament.[4]
The Manipur Territorial Council election took place alongside the 1957 Lok Sabha (parliament) election. Voting took place on 25 February, 2 March and 11 March 1957. Per the Union Territorial Council Act, 1956 the Manipur Territorial Council would have 30 elected members and 2 members nominated by the Government of India. There would be 30 geographic constituencies electing a single member each – the Valley would have 20 seats and the Hills 10 seats.[4] [5] There was no reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.[4] The electorate consisted of 330,211 registered voters – 161,337 men and 168,874 women.[6] Four parties contested the election – the Indian National Congress, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party of India and the Praja Socialist Party. There was also a large cohort of independent candidates in the fray. All in all, 148 candidates contested the election.
| Party | Valley | Hills | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Seats won | Candidates | Seats won | Candidates | Seats won | Votes | % | ||
| Indian National Congress | 20 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 30 | 12 | 48,771 | 28.01% | |
| Socialist Party | 18 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 7 | 34,566 | 19.87% | |
| Communist Party of India | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 19,840 | 11.40% | |
| Praja Socialist Party | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10,076 | 5.78% | |
| Independents | 38 | 2 | 19 | 5 | 57 | 7 | 60,834 | 34.94% | |
There were only 85 invalid votes cast.[6] The highest number of votes polled was that of the Socialist Party candidate Laisram Achaw Singh in the Wangkhei-Kongba constituency, who obtained 4,667 votes (45.22%).[6] In parallel to the Territorial Council election, Laisram Achaw Singh also contested the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat and was elected to Parliament.[8] The smallest number of votes of any winning candidate was that of the Congress candidate in the Hiyanglam-Sugnoo constituency (956 votes).[6] Among the 148 candidates there was a single woman, CPI candidate T. Sabi Devi in the Wangkhei-Kongba constituency.[9] [10] T. Sabi Devi was a resident of Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal and had been a prominent leader of the 1939 Nupi Lal women's movement. She was one of five candidates in the fray in the constituency, but lost her deposit having received 482 votes (4.67%).[9]
| 1. | Khurai | Kongbrailatpam Borthakur Sarma | Socialist | Valley | Circle IV of Imphal pana of East Imphal tahsil | |
| 2. | Wangkhei-Kongba | Laisram Achaw Singh | Socialist | Valley | Circle III of Imphal pana of East Imphal tahsil | |
| 3. | Irinbung-Yairipok-Top Chingtha | Muhammad Amzed Ali | Congress | Valley | Circle III and V of Khabam pana of East Imphal tahsil | |
| 4. | Lamlai-Keirao | Tongbram Kundo Singh | Communist | Valley | Circle II and IV of Khabam pana of East Imphal tahsil | |
| 5. | Sagolmang | Athokpam Thabi Singh | Communist | Valley | Circle I of Khabam pana and Circle I of Naharup pana of East Imphal tahsil, as well as various Hill villages | |
| 6. | Sekmai-Lamsang | Khwairakpam Chaoba Singh | Congress | Valley | Circles II, III and IV of Naharup pana of Imphal West tahsil | |
| 7. | Salam Khumbong-Konthaujam | Khoisnam Heitombi Singh | Communist | Valley | Circles V and VI of Naharup pana of Imphal West tahsil | |
| 8. | Uripok-Lalambung-Thangmeiband | Hidangmayum Dwijamani Sharma | Congress | Valley | Circle I (Part I) of Imphal pana of Imphal West tahsil | |
| 9. | Sagolband | Nongthombam Ibomcha Singh | Independent | Valley | Circle I (Part II) of Imphal pana of Imphal West tahsil | |
| 10. | Keishamthong | Laisram Kulachandra Singh | Socialist | Valley | Circle II (Part I) of Imphal pana of Imphal West tahsil | |
| 11. | Singjamei | Thokchom Chandrasekhar Singh | Socialist | Valley | Circle II (Part II) of Imphal pana of Imphal West tahsil | |
| 12. | Wangoi-Mayang Imphal | Ningthoujam Tomchow Singh | Independent | Valley | Circles I and VI of Ahalloop pana of Imphal West tahsil | |
| 13. | Nambol-Keinou | Yumnam Yaima Singh | Congress | Valley | Circles II and III of Ahalloop pana of Bishenpur tahsil | |
| 14. | Bishenpur-Moirang | Hemam Nilamani Singh | Congress | Valley | Circles IV and V of Ahalloop pana of Bishenpur tahsil | |
| 15. | Kumbi-Thanga | Mairembam Koireng Singh | Congress | Valley | Circle VII of Ahalloop pana of Bishenpur tahsil | |
| 16. | Hiyanglam-Sugnoo | Elangbam Nadi Singh | Congress | Valley | Circle V and Hiyanglam, Wabgai, Keirak and Mayenglamjao villages of Circle IV of Laifam pana of Thoubal tahsil | |
| 17. | Kakching-Wangjing | Khundongbam Itocha Singh | Communist | Valley | Circle VII of Khabam pana and Pallel, Kakching, Mantak, Irengband and Sora villages of Laifam pana of Thoubal tahsil | |
| 18. | Charangpat-Khonjom | Sorokhaibam Chourajit Singh | Congress | Valley | Circle III of Laifam pana and Pechi, Langmeithet, Bengi, Icham Thana, Thokchom, Charangpat Mamang, Charangpat Maklang, Foudel, Hayel Loubook, Bishnu Naha and Wangkhem villages of Circle VI of Khabam pana of Thoubal tahsil | |
| 19. | Thoubal-Chandrakhong | Waikhom Nimaichand Singh | Independent | Valley | Circle II of Laifam pana and Phanjang-Khong, Ningel, Chandrakhong, Kakmayai How-Leikai, Leirongthel, Malom, Bitr, Sekmai-Khunbi, Kwarok Maring, Khudei Khunou, Khoirom, Kekru, Bamon Leikai, Sikhong, Sikhong Khunou, Ingourok, Ukhongsang and Lourembam villages of Circle VI of Khabam pana of Thoubal tahsil | |
| 20. | Lilong | Muhammad Alimuddin | Congress | Valley | Circle I of Laifam pana of Thoubal tahsil | |
| 21. | Tengnuoupal | Paokhohang | Independent | Hills | Tengnoupal Circle | |
| 22. | Phaisat | Rishang Keishing | Socialist | Hills | The villages of the former Phaisat Circle (now merged with the Ukhrul Subdivision) | |
| 23. | Ukhrul | Ngalangzar | Congress | Hills | Ukhrul Subdivision sans the villages from the former Phaisat Circle | |
| 24. | Mao East | Ngaono Thoiso | Independent | Hills | Khamson, Ngatan, Thayang Khullen, Calam, Yanoi, Chawal, Tingsung, Changsang Changjapao, Changsang Solet, Laisang Phoong, Washangphung, Ngawar, Ngamju, Theba Khunou, Thingba Khunou, Thingba Khullen, Oinam, Purul Atongba, Purul Akutpa, Koidei Maiba, Ngari Khullen, Ngari Khunou, Ngari Khullen-X'tian, Thiwa, Khungdei Basti X'tian, Lakhamei, Shirung, Kadong, Phaibung Khullen, Phaibung Khunou, Laii, Chingmai Khullen, Chingmai Khunou, Kataphumai, Liyai, Phuba, Thongjoy, Saranamei, Tungam Khunou and Tungam Khullen villages of Mao Circle | |
| 25. | Mao West | Sibo Larho | Congress | Hills | Pudunamei, Rubunamei, Punanamei, Chawainu, Songsong, Kalinamei, Tadabi, Sajouba, Makhel Khullen, Makhel Kaibi, Chakumai, Makhan, Chawainamei Khullen, Chawainaemei Khunou, Pudong, Maram Khullen, Karong, Khongnem Phoupi, Khongnem, Khabong Chalhang, Maram, Khunou, Maram Khunou Gurkhali, Taphou Khangdebi, Taphou Kuku, Phoibung, Sadim Pukhri, Sadim Luikang, Sadim Khongjai, Sorbund, Silasi, Oklong, Kangyang, Songtun, Songlun Khunou, Leikot, Pheilenkot, Chaka, Razamei, Wilong, Sangkhongmei, Yangkhullen, Yangkhunou, Thuyeng, Tamphung and Monoilam villages of Mao Circle | |
| 26. | Aimol | Athuibo | Socialist | Hills | The villages of the former Aimol Circle (now merged with the Tamenglong Subdivision) | |
| 27. | Tamenglong | Kabipu Kabui | Independent | Hills | Tamenglong Subdivision sans the villages from the former Aimol Circle | |
| 28. | Jiri | Sinam Bijoy Singh | Congress | Hills | Jiribam Subdivision | |
| 29. | Thanlon | Vungkhom | Independent | Hills | The villages of the former Thanlon Circle (now merged with the Churachandpur Subdivision) | |
| 30. | Churachandpur | Paolen | Independent | Hills | Churachandpur Subdivision sans the villages from the former Thanlon Circle | |
| Nominated | R.K. Muthra Devi | Congress | ||||
| Nominated | Anal Akim | Congress | ||||
The Manipur Territorial Council was constituted on 16 August 1957.[1] On 2 September 1957 the Chief Commissioner P.C. Matthew nominated two women as council members – R.K. Mukhara Devi and Anal Akim.[17] [9] [18] [12] The two nominated female council members would eventually join the Indian National Congress.[4] On 5 September 1957 the Territorial Council elected its chairman.[9] The election of chairman was marred by the divisions in the Congress faction in the council.[9] H. Dwijamani Deva Sharma defeated Mairembam Koireng Singh in a vote for the post of chairman.[4] [9] On 27 September 1957 Sharma was dismissed from the post of chairman, and Sibo Larho from the Indian National Congress was elected new chairman on 8 October 1957.[4] [9] The tenure of the Territorial Council elected in 1957 remained until the next Territorial Council election in 1962.[4]