Demand for Constituent Assembly

The demand for a Constituent Assembly was a crucial part of the Indian National Movement. It represented the shift from asking for "reforms" within British rule to demanding the right for Indians to frame their own destiny.

### 1. Evolution of the Demand (Timeline)

The idea did not emerge overnight; it evolved over several decades:

  • 1934: The First Formal Idea

    • The idea was first put forward by M.N. Roy, a pioneer of the Communist movement in India and an advocate of radical democratism.

  • 1935: Indian National Congress (INC)

    • For the first time, the INC officially demanded a Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution of India.

  • 1938: Nehru’s Declaration

    • Jawaharlal Nehru, on behalf of the INC, declared that the Constitution of free India must be framed, without outside interference, by a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise.

  • 1940: The August Offer

    • The British Government recognized the demand for the first time, in principle. They stated that the framing of a new constitution would be primarily the responsibility of Indians themselves.

  • 1942: Cripps Mission

    • Sir Stafford Cripps came to India with a draft proposal on the framing of an independent constitution to be adopted after World War II.

    • The Twist: The Muslim League rejected it because they wanted India divided into two autonomous states with two separate Constituent Assemblies.

  • 1946: Cabinet Mission Plan

    • Finally, a three-member Cabinet Mission (Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander) arrived.

    • While it rejected the idea of two separate assemblies, it put forth a scheme for the Constituent Assembly that satisfied the Muslim League sufficiently to participate initially.

### 2. Composition of the Constituent Assembly

The Assembly was constituted in November 1946 under the scheme formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan.

  • Total Strength: 389 members.

    • 296 were from British India.

    • 93 were from the Princely States.

  • Method of Election: * Members from British Provinces were indirectly elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.

    • Members from Princely States were nominated by the heads of the princely states.

    • UPSC Note: Therefore, the Constituent Assembly was a partly elected and partly nominated body.

  • Diverse Representation: Although elected by a limited franchise, the Assembly included representatives from all sections of society—Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Parsis, Anglo-Indians, Indian Christians, SCs/STs, and women.

### 3. Key Facts for Prelims

EventPerson/Body
First suggested the idea (1934)M.N. Roy
Official INC demand (1935)Indian National Congress
First British Acceptance (1940)August Offer
The plan that formed the CA (1946)Cabinet Mission Plan
First Meeting DateDecember 9, 1946
Interim PresidentDr. Sachchidananda Sinha (Oldest member)
Permanent PresidentDr. Rajendra Prasad

### 4. The Objective Resolution

On December 13, 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the historic 'Objectives Resolution' in the Assembly.

  • It laid down the fundamentals and philosophy of the constitutional structure.

  • This resolution later became the Preamble of the Constitution of India.

Significance for APSC (Assam Context)

It is worth noting that Assam sent prominent leaders to the Constituent Assembly, including Gopinath Bordoloi, Syed Muhammad Saadulla (who was also a member of the Drafting Committee), and J.J.M. Nichols Roy, who played a key role in framing the Sixth Schedule for tribal areas.

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