The politics and functioning of the East Bengal legislature, 1947-58.

■THE POLITICS AND FUNCTIONING OF THE EAST BENGAL LEGISLATURE, 19^7 - 58.

by

NAUMA CHOWDHURY

T h e s i s p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e D egree o f D o c to r o f P h i l o s o p h y , a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f London.

May 1972.

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: . : " • ; ABSTRACT v .' h ^ v / - ' h / /

The Muslim L e a g u e , t h e r u l i n g p a r t y d u r i n g 1 9 h 7 -5 h , , h ad overw helm ing m a j o r i t y i n t h e l e g i s l a t u r ;e,. The - p a r t y ■unity,. ; ho w ev er, was . somewhat; a r t i f i c i a l l y c o n t r i v e d a s p o t e n t i a l , d i s s i d e n t l e a d e r s w e r e : a p p a r e n t l y removed d e l i b e r a t e l y fro m t h e a sse m b ly and' b y - e l e c t i o n s w i t h h e l d f o l 1 owing t h e d e f e a t o f : ML■jc a n d i d a t e i n ■ I9W9. O p p o s i t i o n t o t h e L e a g u e , p r o j e c t e d by t h e l a t t e r a s

a n t i - P a k i s t a n i , c o n t i n u e d t o grow o u t s i d e b u t had no means o f

: .b ein g r e p r e s e n t e d , i n t h e a sse m b ly w h ic h , . c o n s e q u e n t l y , d i d n o t • ad e q u a t e l y vr e f l e c t v t h e v p r e v a i l i n g p o l i t i c a l c o m p le x io n o f t h e

. p r o v i n c e . . The o f f i c i a l o p p o s i t i o n , i n th e - a s s e m b ly , t h e

P a k i s t a n N a t i o n a l C o n g r e s s , ; c o u ld n o t p e rf o r m t h e r o l e o f a i p a r l i a m e n t a r y o p p o s i t i o n , . p r i m a r i l y ; d u e t o :l t s p o l i t i c a l - ;

a n t e c e d e n t s / a n d t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s l e a d i n g t o i n d e p e n d e n c e i n l 9 1+7.

The U n i t e d F r o n t , an e l e e t i o n - a L l i a n c e o f o p p o s i t i o n p a r t i e s c o n t e s t i n g : t h e Muslim s e a t s , \ u t t e r l y d;ef e a t e d _the/:ML.i

; i n 195^ e l e c t i o n . But t h e F r o n t / l a c k e d e le m e n ts o f u n i t y and s t a b i l i t y and soon . d i s i n t e g r a t e d in to - c o m p o n e n t u n i t s . / /A t - 'h o / A - y v. p a r t y was th e n . a b l e / t o . ; command a b s o l u t e m a j o r i t y ^ / a ^ p r o c e s s / /:/,

. o f f r a g m e n t a t i o n , ; we ak p o l i t i c a l a l i i anc e s and p a r t y l o y a l t i e s became a r e g u l a r f e a t u r e r e s u l t i n g i n i n d e c i s i v e m a j o r i t i e s - v i ­

and u n s t a b l e m i n i s t r i e s , ' w h ic h i n , t u r n l e d f u r t h e r .w o rsen in g , o f t h e p r o c e s s . T h i s a c u t e - f r a g m e n t a t i o n i n t h e a s s e m b ly • : / i ■

w hich was p r im a r il y ,; due t o p r o s p e c t s o f , and : d i s a g r e e m e n t s . .:' ; : o v e r , s h a r e o f pow er and p o l i t i c a l o f f i e e s c o n t r i b u t ed t o .th e ; > • ^;/

o v e r - a l l p o l i t i c a l p r o c e s s o f f r a g m e n t a t i o n . ’ /

v71 P o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s d u r i n g 19^7-58 s u f f e r e d ; fro m l a c k ■* . o f o r g a n i s a t i o n a l d e v e lo p m e n t. M o s tly , t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n s - ; '

rem ained: s t r u c t u r a l l y . a n d / f u n c t i o n a l l y w eak. Where a c e r t a i i i . amount o f d e v e lo p m e n t was a t t a i n e d , t h i s d i d n o t 'how ever' . /;;/ : :v

s u f f e r e d t h r o u g h l e a d e r s h i p a n d ; f a c t i o n a l s t r u g g l e s .

; In fh e -d isc h a r g e o f i t s fu n ctio n s durihg ,19^7-58. . th e performance of-, the; le g is la t u r e , though hot im p ressiv e, : was n o t e n t i r e l y n e g l i g i b l e , and t h e ; g o v e r m e n t /was, - s u b j e c t e d

t o some amount o f '-a c c o u n ta b ility ;^ and ; c o n t r o l . . The; p r o c e d u r a l r u l e s , t h e p e rf o r m a n c e o f c o m m itte e s a n d '.th e ’ p o s i t i o n o f

a sse m b ly s e c r e t a r i a t , r e v e a l t h a t th e ; l e g i s l a t u r e ‘ d i d n o t h a v e a s t r o n g i n s t i t u t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r . The dom inance o f ' t h e ML • . and t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e g o v ernm ent d u r i n g

19

7

5

t h e a sse m b ly t o d e v e l o p and; a s s e r t i t s e l f . F r a g m e n t a t i o n o f .. ■ _• p a r t i e s j m i n i s t e r i a l ; i n s t a b i l i t i e s and t h e i n s t a n c e s o f

s u s p e n s i o n o f p a r l i a m e n t a r y governm ent d u r in g , 19^h-58 p r e v e n t e d t h e l e g i s l a t u r e from a c q u i r i n g a s t r o n g and v i g o r o u s e x i s t e n c e .

i v

- ■ - ■ ' ' , P1TBFACB ' ” ' ; y ' -. .■ h. \'V -' .

B a n g ! a d e s h , d u r in g . 19b7 ,~ 53 a s a p r o v i n c e o f P a k i s t a n , . was k n o w n f i r s t a S ; B a s t B a n g - a l .and t h e n . H a s t P a k i s t a n . . O f f i c i a l l y ;'

t h e name. E a s t B a n g a l c o n t i n u e d . u n t i l 1953 "when u n d e r t h e new > ; c o n s t i t u tlb h - t h e p r o v i n c e was r e d e s i g n a t e d as B a s t P a k i s t a n . I l l ' ■.

; . o f f i c i a l . , r e c o r d s ,. p r o c e e d i n g s and a c t s o f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e r e f e r r e d ; / . t d t h e p r o v i n c e a s B a s t B e n g a l ’ h n t i f the- c o n s t i t u t i o n was p ro m u l- ; g a t e d i n 1953., The name . E ast, P a k i s t a n , h o w e v e r , Began a l s o t o be ’ u se d u n o f f i c i a l l y from an e a r l i e r t i m e , i n n e w s p a p e r s and o c c a s i o n ^ a l l y -• i n .d e b a te s i n t h e as sem bly. / The . p r o v i n c i a i b r a n c h o f t h e , j

• Muslim L eague was d e s i g n a t e d . 'as B a s t e r n P a k i s t a n ’ o r B a s t P a k i s t a n ; j fro m t h e i e g i n h i n g , and the;/' Aw ami L eag u e, fo rm ed -in O p p o s i t i o n . ' . t o t h e l e a g u e i n 1 9 b - 9 a d o p t e d the,; d e s i g n a t i o n o f B a s t P a k i s t a n . ; '. The .name B a s t .B e n g al a p p e a r s i n t h e t i t l e o f t h e t h e s i s , and , ■

g e n e r a l l y ? i n t h e t e x t where, i t h a s a l s o b e e n . u s e d ; i n t e re hang e a b l y ;

w i t h B a s t P a k i s t a n . . ; i

. . . • -V.. T h e' l e g i s l a t u r e o f t h e p r o v i n c e was known a s t h e

L e g i s l a t i v e I s s e m b l y u n d e r t h e Govt, o f I n d i a l e t -1935 as_ amended:.

v b y ' t h e 'In d e p en d e n ce Act. o f 19h7. Under t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n o f 1953/

f i t : was. named t h e P r o v i n c i a l ..Assembly. - I t , h a s g e n e r a l l y 'been'... •. f ■ / r e f e r r e d ;bo i n t h e t h e s i s , as, t h e a sse m b ly . ; : The te r m s .’ 'MLAs^ and ;.

' ; 'MPAs1 h a v e b e en u s e d ' i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y . - ., I n h v e f e r r i n g ' t o t h e - ;- l e g i s l a t i v e wings- of. p a r t i e s t h e m ost commonly u se d e x p r .e s s io h s : - V h a v e b e e n a d o p t e d , e . gv t h e Muslim. L eag u e p a r l i a m e h t a r y / p a r t y , \ .

t h e C o n g r e s s a s s e m b ly p a r t y ; and . so /on. V . ' : A

; . ; r l A; p r i m a r y n r b a s o n / f hr L h e . s e l e c t i o n ; o f / t h e y e a r s > . ‘ :;

. 1 9 t 7 ” 58 - a s , t h e ' p e r i o d o f s t u d y was t h a t t h e y e a r s n e a t l y f i t t e d / , '.

. i n t o , two h i s t o r i c a l ' 1 and mark s - 1 9t 7: as t h e y e a r o f in d e p e n d e n c e ■//•/

/from B r i t i s h r u l e and 1958 as t h e y e a r when t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n . . was a b r o g a t e d and m a r t i a l l a w ' p ro m u lg a te d i n P a k i s t a n . The

c o u n t r y was g o v e rn e d u n t i l t h e f r a m in g o f a c o n s t i t u t i o n i n . March 1956 u n d e r . t h e G o v t. o f I n d i a Act 1 9 3 5 . us amended by t h e In d e p e n d e n c e A ct l9*-/7> w hich e n v is a g e d .a p a r l i a m e n t a r y g o v e rn m e n t.

The c o n s t i t u t i o n o f i '956 ad o p ted , t h e pai’l i a m e n t a r y form o f g o v e r n ­ m en t. The y e a r s ,19&7 t o 1958 r e p r e s e n t t h e y e a r s o f

p a r l i a m e n t a r y , e x p e r i e n c e . 'The c o n s t i t u t i o n was a b r o g a t e d i n 1958 and a s h i f t t o w a r d s a p r e s i d e n t i a l ^government i n i t i a t e d b e c a u s e o f t h e a l l e g e d ■ f a i l u r e 1 o f p a r l i a m e n t a r y go v ern m en t i n P a k i s t a n .

. A l e g i s l a t u r e may be d e s c r i b e d as a s u b - s y s t e m o f a ‘ p o l i t i c a l system.'*’ The p r e s e n t s t u d y t h u s f o c u s e s a t t e n t i o n ; on. .one. s u b - s y s t e m . - one a r e a o r p a r t o f a l a r g e r w hole - I n t h e p o l i t i c a l p r o c e s s e s i n B a s t B e n g a l, L e g i s l a t i v e s t u d i e s c o u ld be; v a r i o u s l y c o n d u c t e d . F o r ex am p le, t h e l e g i s l a t u r e , c o u l d be >

se e n b a s i c a l l y i n t e r m s / o f a n 1 i n p u t - o u t p u t 1 m o d e l , . - a s t u d y o f how,demands and i n t e r e s t s a r e a r t i c u l a t e d and a g g r e g a t e d by ‘ p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s * p r e s s u r e g r o u p s and o t h e r a g e n c i e n , how a n d . . ' on what r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h e y r e a c h t h e l e g i s l a t i v e i n s t i t u t i o n , ■ t h e r o l e o f t h e 1 i n s t i t u t i o n i t s e l f i n s h a p in g o r r e - s h a p i n g t h e m , '

and how and t o what e x t e n t t h e y a r e t r a n s l a t e d ' i n t o p o l i c y . d e c i s i o n s by th e , l e g i s l a t u r e . A r e l a t e d a p p r o a c h would' have- .•

b e e n a p u r e l y , f u n c t i o n a l / s t u d y o f th e . l e g i s l a t u r e 1 s b u s i n e s s . : , : A. l e g i s l a t i v e , s t u d y c o u ld a l s o ' b e 1 l e g i s l a t o r - o r i e n t e d 1 , - f o r . >.

1 . S e e , G a b r i e l A. /Almond ahd G. Bingham P o w e ll J r . , C o m p a ra tiv e P o l i t i c s ; A D e v e lo p m e n ta l A pproach (B o s to n ; L i t t l e , Brown

and. Company, 1 9 6 6) , pp. ,1 8 -2 2 ; J o h n C. W ah lk e . e t a l T ^ The Le g i s l a t i v e S y s t e m ; .Ex p l o r a t i o n s i n L e g i s l a t i v e

B ehavi o u r (New Y o rk , London; J o h n W iley and S o n s , I n c . , 1 9 6 2) ,

' ■ P* 5."~ ■ . ' i ...

V I

e x am p le, an a n a l y s i s o f t h e l e g i s l a t o r s 1 p o l i t i c a l , e d u c a t i o n a l , : e c o n o m ic c o c c u p a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d e t c . , t o a t t e m p t , t o c o r r e l a t e ; - /

; t h e s e w i t h t h e i r . ' p a r t y a f f i l i a t i o n s and p e r f o r m a n c e s i n t h e . l e g i s l a t u r e , . %nfd w i t h t h e b e h a v io u r . of; t h e / l e g i s l a t u r e i t s e l f . .1

; M o t h e r ; met hod would h e t o s t u d y t h e p o l i t i c a l p r o c e s s e s i n t h e l e g i s l a t u r e . , m a i n l y f o c u s i n g on t h e - r o l e rand, i n t e r - p l a y o f .

p o l i t i c a l l p a r t i Q s . w i t h i n t h e a sse m b ly .; The., p r e s e n t s t u d y h a s / . . . a d o p te d t h i s - . l a s t y a p p r o a c h , i n d o in g so]; a t t e n t i o n h a s ’ b een . / , / / m a in ly f o c u s s e d on; t h e .b e h a v io u r o f p a r t i e s ; within t h e l e g i s l a t u r e ; ,

t h e - o r g a n i s a t i o n .and a c t i v i t y / o f p a r t i e s o u t s i d e t h e l e g i s l a t u r e - ;/

h a s ..been c o n s i d e re d t o t h e e x t e n t . t h a t , t h e y r e l a t e t o t h e

- p o l i t i c a l p r o c e s s e s ' i n t h e assem b ly ., • A d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e ;. ; / / v a r i o u s f u n c t i o n s '/ o f v t h e . . l e g i s l a t u r e h a s a l s o b e e n i n c l u d e d i n .

. t h e s t u d y . i . ' / / . , , ; , / ; / . v - ; ’■■■. \ ■1 ■. ;

. ' i l h e n ' w r i t i n g on a' p e r i o d o f th e. d i s t a n t p a s t a. ‘ ..

.'•.’. w r i t e r i s . . r e l a t i v e l y ; w e l l - p l a c e d t o a s s e s s t h e c h a r a c t e r s a s . . t h e i r r o l e s h a v e b e e n . f u l l y p l a y e d , f I n p u r e l y , c o n te m p o ra ry , : / . .. s t u d i e s , t h e . c h a r a c t e r s a r e .s k e tc h e d , a s . t h e y ' a r e b e in g p l a y e d . - .; B ut when m aking a sth d y . 6 f .what, may be c a l l e d / a r e l a t i v e l y ' . '

/c o n te m p o r a r y p e r i o d w h ich i s . a l s o o f l i m i t e d t im e d u r a t i o n and does n o t come up t o t h e p r e s e n t tim e ( a s i n t h e p r e s e n t - s t u d y ) , t h e r e , i s t h e s p e c i a l h a n g e r of, . p r o j e c t i n g ' on t o , s a y , / t h e 1 9 ^ 7 -5 8 ; '/.!

p e r i o d t h e c h a r a c t e r s and r o l e s of- . p o l i t i c a l a c t o r s as t h e y ; / ■ \ / , / ; j

h a y e evolved, and d e v e lo p e d , t h r o u g h ' t h e p o s t -.1958 p e r i o d . ; , C are •. j h a s . b e e n t a k e n t o g u a r d / a g a i n s t . t h i s - d a n g e r , ' but; i n .consequence; /!

. i t h a s t o b e 1 r e c o g n i s e d t h a t i n t h e C ase, o f many o f o u r a c t o r s ; ; | - t h e s t o r y t o l d h e re , h a s / t o ..sto p .b e f o r e t h p i r p e rf o r m a n c e o n - t h e . ■ • / p o l i t i c a l s t a g e h a s b e en c o m p let ed. ‘ ■ / / " , , . ., '■

. / ;Th'e b a s i c s o u r c e m a t e r i a l s , f o r t h e r e s e a r c h / c o m p r i s e d . o f f i c i a l r e p o r t s o f -th e p r o c e e d in g s - o f t h e House arid n e w s p a p e r s . •

These, were su p p le m e n te d by a v a i l a b l e p u b l i c a t i o n s o f t h e g o v e r n -

d a t a o f ; members' / o f : / t h e l e g i s l a t u r e d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d . were

■obtained, t h r b i i g h a prep ay ed s e t o f . q u e s t i o n n a i r e s . d i f f e r ­ e n t i a t i o n o r; s e l e c t i o n , was made/ and;; t h e / q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere s e n t ; t o a l l - members Jm ow n to. h e ’l i v i n g a t ' t h e i r a d d r e s s e s as

r e c o r d e d a t t h e t i m e e x c e p t .in sonic’ few c a s e e t w h e r e t h e i r more ? f e d e n t w - a d d r e s s J w e r e • k n o w n /1/ - i n t e r t - i e w s ; w ere c o n d u c te d w i t h p e r s o n s ; c o n n e c t e d ; w i t h t h e ; ^ f u n c t i o n i n g o f/ t h e l e g i s l a t u r e

.d u r in g ' the, p e r i o d - s e l e c t e d p o l i t i c i a n s arid: members' and s t a f f o f t h e a s s e m b l y / s C c r e t a r i a t , . r e s i d i n g i n D a c c a ( e x c e p t two

member s. in . a \ n e i g h b o u r i n g d i s t r i c t1 h e a d q u a r t e r ) . / A part from some n e w s p a p e r i n E n g l i s h * / t h e :m a l e r i a l s -were c o l l e c t e d a t / D a cc a i n two s t a g e s , \ i n ■1 9 6 7!/ b e f o r e ’ t h e s t u d y was begun and ;<

i n 1 9 6 9 - a f t e r . some / p r e l i m i n a r y / s t u d y h a d b e e n m a d e f

. .. , /- : I n making, t h i s s t u d y I i n c u r r ed many

d.

g r a t i t u d e . . • //. . I - ’/ / / • / /': . J . / / /■/.■- '-/4Vv /.'-'*//. ;/. ■:/

/ ' / ;; / ' / / / : ' I h was a p r i v i l e g e : . a n d ’.a v e r y , r e w a r d i n g - 'e x p e r i e n c e t o /h a v e worked.; under, t h e s u p e r v i s i o n / o f P r o f e s s o r W.If. > l o f r i s - J o n e s ,

D i r e c t o r , I n s t i t u t e o f Commdnweaifh B t u d i e s , / ‘U n i v e r s i t y o f %

■ Dohdon. ; W ith o u t; h i s g u id a n c e ; t h e r e would h a v e b e e n many I m p e f f e c t i o n s i n ’ t h e / s t y l e , .and t r e a t m e n t ..of - t h i s w o rk .,;/T o a

■ v e r y /la r g e / e x t e n t ,/ t h l s work ,h a s b e e n p o s s i b l e b e c a u s e o f h i s c o n s t a n t; encour.ag ement.: ‘and jfaiipd "'p’a t i Cnch . / ’ ; /

/ / / / A S c h o l a r s h i p f o r ' t h r e e / y e a r s f f om t h e ...Commonwealth .,'Schoiadvship>:C.pripissioh;:-in;t h e ’':ljnitb'd''itl-ngdqm';-and / s t u d y ' l e a v e

g r a n t e d ;b y / t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f Dacca; en ab led - me ::t o / u n d e r t a k e t h e h t u d y , / I t " was . a l s o niade; p o s s i b l e by a; l o n g l e a v e g r a n t ed t o my ,

husband.:, by!,A.; £? K a h l o n / o f ' ( t h e n f / t h e Pakbay/ Co..

; My/ d e b t s / a re //a l.sb t o I yK> O rch ard s o n , R e g i s t r a r , . ' .-./

S c h o o l o f / O r i e n t a l , and A f r i c a n .StM ies./';. tJiiiv e r s i t y o f Bond on,- ; ! B .E .T e m p le y J o i n t . S e c r e t a r y , v:O b ia m b h w d a lth .b c h o ia rs h lp .C o n m iip b io n / /

i n t h e ; U n it ed ■-. K in g d o m ,;. t h e s t a f f o f ' t h e ! l i b r ax*y . o f t he : I n s t i t u t e , o f .Commonwealth’.- S t u d i e s and t h e / B r i t i s l i Museunf Newspaper / ■

L i b f a r y . a n d . Mis s K i r s t e e n ■ McCflusheh and- Miss., Gweridd. M. ,/Hqare :at; ;/

th e- R e g i s t r a r ' s o f f i c e o f t h e / S c h o o l o f O r ie iT ta f a n d ■ A f r i c a n / ’: ' . S tu d ie s :-;; I.- ani a l s o ‘i n d e b t e d t o t h e 'C e n t r a l R e s e a r c h f u n d o f - . , , '1 t h e ' U n i v . e r s i t y o f London.. : / / ■/./.,/://■/'; / / /h /^ - ..//- / /./.y. k -y //

I w o u l d :l i k e t o t h a n k M iss M a r g a r e t Beard and Mrs. / Ahhe B a r n e s o f t h e . I n s t i t u t e of. Commonwealth ■ S tu d ie s ,, f o r t h e i r , 1 h e l p i n . p r e p a r i n g t h e ; t h e s i s and f o r t h e i r , f r i e n d s h i p .which /■■'//

h e l p e d , i n ' t h e o c c a s i o n a l . p e r i o d s ..of d e sp o n d e n c y t h a t r e s e a r c h . s t u d e n t s som etim es f e e l . y :; : : ' : - - / . /;■/■ / f / y •' ! .vhy.

\ ,1 w p .u ld - lik e t o exp i n ss m y ' g r a t i t u d e ■ t o ,D r. M. R a s h i - ;. . . duzzamail, Gholam .Rahman,.- Syed M esbahuddin H u s a in ,. D r. Najmui / / V.

/ A b e d in , Syed; Shamin- i l h s a h , , N.urttl., Qad e r ICaan',: and/ Paruquzzprnah, 1/ / ; .Z ah e d i f o r t h e i r , h e l p i n c o l l e c t i n g m a t e r i a l s f o r my r e s e a r c h , /

W ith o u t t h e i r , h e l p - i t / w o u l d h a v e / b e e n v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o o b t a i n ■/

some o f t h e m a t e r i a l s / / : ' / / / y / ; / y :' ■ f y / './■ h :'; : •/ w f / '/ . / /'• /-!■/••/

/. , . 1 am. a l s o d e e p l y g r a t e f u l t o t h e p o l i t i c i a n s and

members ' and s t a f f o f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e ; d u r in g . 1 9 1+7-58 who g r a n t e d //;

me i n t e r v i e w s , i n . A ugust , i 9 h 7 ‘-ahd\.vM a r c h ^ ^ r i l : 1 9 6 9 and t h e i r - , c o n t r i b u t i o n s .have.■ been, d u l y ack n o w led g ed I n .t h e t h e s i s . . But

■1. would, l i k e .to m e n tio n ' s p e c i a l l y h erev b h e. v a l u a b l e h e l p o f f / / -

Abul M ansur Ahmad_,f Bhabe;sh/^ ' $y.edy&zi-zhly Huq* . /

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. . : . 1 . am i n d e b t e d .t o Kamran R. Chowdhury f o r h i s k i n d h e l p .

w i t h w hiph t h e y have lo o k e d a f t e r o u r c h ii d y b a j n l y a w h i l e we h a v e 'b e e n ; i n London. My p a r e n t s and p a r t i c u l a r l y h i s h a t

w e r e ; o f immense h e l p i n c o l l e c t i n g and c o l l a t i n g some m a t e r i a l s a t :;D acc;ak

-V': 1 ° M einur I re m a in i n d e b t e d f o r ; e n a b l i n g me t o / / I a c c e p t, t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y o f w o rd in g f o r a h i g h e r d e g r e e . I

c o u ld h o t h a v e u n d e r t a k e n t h i s work w i t h o u t ;h i s / p r e s e n c e ,in

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PREFACE . v : ' \ y .

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TABLE OP1 CONTENTS -y, ': ;

CHAPTER I. INSTITUTIONAL .ORGANISATION . / 1

: : 1. C o m p o sitio n * 2. S e s s i o n s ; p r o c e e d i n g s and f e a t u r e s * 3. , The assem bly: b u i l d i n g and

■y' . ‘; . ch am b er, b. P r o c e d u r e R ules* 5* The- ' . - , ; . • C o m m itte e s o f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e . 6. The '

Assem bly S e c r e t a r i a t . y7* The S p e a k e r and t h e . • . D e p u ty S p e a k e r.: -8, The G o v e rn o r.' ■

CHAPTER. I T . 'POLITICS OF FIRST ASSEMBLY: - f i t y 6b ;

1. The Muslim L eague i n P a k i s t a n , 19b7.~b8 . .

: ■ ,.y and t h e r e o r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h e League: i n ! .■

E a s t P a k i s t a n ,'1 9 b 8 .* 2. The n a t u r e o f :.

p a r t y u n i t y i n : t h e :a sse m b ly .- i t h e c a s e :o f . " I

•’■ t h e .EPM±j. 3. Muslim League a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s y . .Muslim o p p o s i t i o n ; d i f f i c u l t i e s ; ; o f t h e Muslim .

o p p o s i t i o n i n t h e a sse m b ly ., l b . N ature- o f

- r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n t h e g o v e r n m e n ta l and. .. y . : ; o r g a n i s a t i o n a l l e a d e r s h i p s o f t h e EPML, 19b7~5b.

..5. R e l a t i o n s h i p s b e tw e e n EPML/'.'and c e n t r a l ...

; l e a d e r s h i p s , 19b7~5b. 6. ’ M in o r ity * p o l i t i c s .

: CHAPTER I I I TCMARDSPTHE SECOND 'ASSEMBLY 17 5

.1 , P a r t i e s o u t s i d e t h e l e g i s l a t u r e d u r i n g I9b7~5b; : a b a c k g r o u n d . o f p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s w hich c o n t e s t e d i n 1 9 5b e l e c t i o n , 2.

- E l e c t i o n a l l i a n c e s ; ...United F r o n t and M i n o r i t i e s U n ite d F r o n t , 3. ... E l e c t i o n s .

CHARTER/IT7- POLI T ICS..'bF^aBCbND ASSEMBLY //■■ ' /■ / ;//:. ... /: ■ ■'- / £ / /T e n d e n c y t o w a r d s f r a g m e n t a t i o n o f , ■ y^w/:;- .-.y/

'■/ yy-;t y - y y /- , p o l i t i c a l / p a r t i e s , 2*.' ’F l o a t i n g 1., m e m b e rs //:

:/! ;/' f / ;and ;f d e f e c t o r ST\ m a r k e t f 3/ C o a l i t i o n ' v : ./■ .- '=-: / / ' / / p o l i t i c s / / / e l e m e n t s . o f b a r g a i n i n g and n e g o - ’/ •

y ■ / t i a t i o n I n .th e f o r m a t i o n and s u s t e n a n c e o f , - , / / / m i n i s t r i e s ‘ b y . P o l i t i c s and l e a d e r s h i p ' ' ‘-'v '';Vl.

. / . 7:! a t / n a t i o n a l l e v e l ' and t h e p o l i t i c a l

. ;. ■/.■'/;'■ 1 , . ; .;y- p r o c e s s ': i n " E a s t P a k i s t a n .; , . " . /' •:/./ y / ' :'

CHAPTER V ^ E G I SIlATPRE AT WORK / b . ■//'' ' / / ' /

/ / /y,'-7 7 / / / \ / 7r . y Q u e s t i o n s . • 2. A d f d u r m 'e h t' Motions.. -/

7- / ■ / / ' -/ y 7/ 1 3 . / L e g i s l a t i o n . . ,b. B u d g e ts . ■ 5../N on- y; • / /•/■;

■ .•;,/./ / / o f f i c i a l / b u s i h e s s / ' yb/./~- ' 7/ / / - , : / ' y 7 v 7 / ~ CHART m - V T - ’ THE LB G1 SLAT QRS l , / y / : / / . y ,■ y y 7 b y '- / / / : .

l y / / y y , /•;/ y / :/ 1 , . B i o g r a p h i c a l / d a t a - , o n members.; 2. B e h a v io u r , / ■ /:! ;/: ' -y3, Bpeechs- s t y i e .C / o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n , b.Members

; ,/ and t h e i r c o a s L i t u e n c i e s . 5* G al a r y / a n d / / / ; / / . / ■' ; • p f i v i l e g e s t y y • .■■'./ //■■•.; ■ A . /

■ 7 CHAPTER V I I CCHCLUBION; -: b . , / 77 : /' ' ' ■ . / y

' // APPENDIX T o T h e ev o l u t i o n o f l e g ! s i a t u r e i n B e n g a l r . l 8 6 l - /

•;y b : // y ..'/ A - y nvey; ' / / / / f /;./.. y / • .

/• //APPENDIX i j S p e c im e n /c toy- o f a. S e s s i o n a l :Programme>' ' ; : A PPptelX 7111 T h e .21 P o i n t 'Programme, / r- 7 y l A / / b y. . . ..

: y APPENDIX^ E l e c t i;qu/'Symbols. b y ' 7 / / ' i./ ' yy . . ! :/'APPENDIX :¥ . P a r t y - w i s e s t r e n g t h o f members; o f t h e Assembly b y / / b / / y . ( 1 9 ^ 4 -5 8 ) as. shown i n t h e s t a t e m e n t n r e c a r e d ;

/• ' ■ /: -' /• ' b by t h e a s s e m b ly ' s e c r e t a r i a t , . .y y y

: -APPENDIX VI Ques ti-bh/ Form. : . /•■//.. . ;/ v .,

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' - a s s e m b ly. . .. V'•■•‘X: ; 502

APPENDIX X I I N ote on s o u r c e s -of B loA r'antilcaIIdP.ta- o n -' ■ ' •. ' /' ;

- I / - me mbe r s ^ ; ■ ■ ' ' "P: i ' \ . '' " 508

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AML . -Awami M uslim L e a g u e .

A l p h a b e t i c a l L i s t A l p h a b e t i c a l L i s t 'of. Members o f t h e E a s t B e n g a l L e g i s l a t i v e A s s e m b l y . • ,

BLCP . . P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e B e n g a l L e g i s l a t i v e ,C o u n c i l

BML /' • B e n g a l P r o v i n c i a l M uslim L e a g u e . ,

CAPD C o n s t i t u e n t A ssem b ly o f P a k i s t a n D e b a t e s .

Code E a st. P a k i s t a n Code. '

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P a k i s t a n . " * ; ;

D r a f t R u l e s R e p o r t o f t h e C om m ittee . . . t o d r a f t R u l e s r e g a r d i n g t h e p r o c e d u r e and c o n d u c t o f

b u s i n e s s o f t h e A ssem b ly u n d e r . . . t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f th e , I s l a m i c R e j j u b l i c o f

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EPAP v • ' E a s t P a k i s t a n A ssem bly P r o c e e d i n g s .

- .■ EPMX, EPMLPP E a s t P a k i s t a n P r o v i n c i a l M uslim L e a g e , E a s t P a k i s t a n P r o v i n c i a l M uslim L eag u e P a r l i a m e n t

o r ^ r y P a r t y . ■ '

’C .D a l G - a n a t a n t r i D a l .

i r c I n d i a n R a t i o n a l C o n g r e s s .

ITJML : I n d i a n U n io n M uslim L e a g u e . .

EPP K r i s h a k P ro ;ja P a r t y . .

ESiP V " is A M iI S f d tif k P a r t y . '

ML -■ ... • M uslim L e a g u e .

MUP ’ M i n o r i t i e s . - U n i t e d P r o n t . "I

M P ' R a t i o n a l Awami P a r t y * * . '

RIP R i z a m - i - I s l a m P a r t y *

PAG P u b l i c A c c o u n ts C o m m itte e .

PCLG-B ■ P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e C o u n c i l o f th e . L i e u t e n a n t - . G o v e r n o r . o f B e n g a l .

PML : \ P a k i s t a n M uslim L e a g u e . . .. , . '

PRC■ P a k i s t a n R a t i o n a l C o n g r e s s . .

P r o c e d u r e R u l e s E a s t B e n g a l L e g i s l a t i v e . A sse m b ly P r o c e d u r e

' ./ -’ R u l e s .

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UP, UEPP U n i t e d P r o n t , U n i t e d P r o n t P a r l i a m e n t a r y P a r t y , UPP v • U n i t e d P r o g r e s s i v e P a r t y . . .

IMSTXTUriOWffi' ORGAWISATIOH .

1 , Compo s i t i o n . . ..

I M embership ^ y ; . \ . . ■’

■: D u r in g 19*47 t o 1 9 5 85 t h e r e were two l e g i s l a t i v e • a s s e m b l i e s i n E a s t B engal." . . T h e f i r s t a s s e m b ly , c o n s t i t u t e d a t t h e t i m e o f in d e p e n d e n c e in . I9h7 3 c o n ti n u e d f o r n e a r l y se v en y e a r s up t o March 195*4* The; second a sse m b ly e l e c t e d i n M arch 195*4, was d isso 3 .v e d f o u r and a h a l f y e a r s l a t e r i n O c to b e r 1958 w h e n . m a r t i a l law was p r o m u lg a te d i n ■ P a k i s t a n .- 9 ,

The. f i r s t a s s e m b ly , .(19k7~5*+) had a m em bership o f 171*

One h u n d re d and f o r t y - o n e o f t h e s e s e a t s were fro m c o n s t i t u e n c i e o f t h e u n d i v i d e d B e n g a l a s s e m b ly a n d ; t h i r t y fro m c o n s t i t u e n c i e s of. t h e Assam a s s e m b ly i n t h e d i s t r i c t o f S y l h e t , w i t h c e r t a i n r e - d e m a r c a t i o n and d e l i m i t a t i o n of. c o n s t i t u e n c i e s , i n some b o r d e r i n g a r e a s a s a r e s u l t o f p a r t i t i o n . - The l e g i s l a t i v e . a s s e m b li e s o f u n d i v id e d B e n g a l , a n d .of Assam had b een e l e c t e d i n 1 9*4 6. At . t h e tim e o f in d e p e n d e n c e i n A ugust 19*+73 members o f t h e B e n g al l e g i s l a t i v e a s s e m b ly w i t h c o n s t i t u e n c i e s i n E a s t . B e n g a l and t h o s e o f t h e Assam l e g i s l a t i v e assem bly, w i t h c o n s t i t u e n c i e s i n t h e d i s t r i c t o f S y lh e t'.c a m e t o be members, o f t h e l e g i s l a t i v e ,

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a sse m b ly o f E a s t B e n g a l i n P a k i s t a n . Members r e p r e s e n t e d s e p a r a t e communal and s p e c i a l . c o n s t i t u e n c i e s ,

1 . F o r a . b r i e f s u r v e y o f t h e e v o l u t i o n o f l e g i s l a t u r e i n B e n g a l from 1861 t o 19*473 s e c A ppendix I .

T a b l e 1.

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• • C . o n s n r t u e n c i a s : .; .- E a s t - B e n g a l - i S y l h e t ; = T o t a l / f r o m ' V p f e - v . u - R : C f r o m ; ' p r e T t ' ■ S e a t s T - i n d e p e n d d h c Q ■ i n d e p e n d e n c e .

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p o p u l a t i o n : o f G e n e r a l : c o h s t i t u e n c i o s , i i ojr/tyl^ch. ra; c e r t a i n number' o f s e a t s w e r e ; r e s e r v e d 5' f o r t h p S c h e d u l e d f C a s t e s . . T h e f o l l o w i n g were L ab o u r • and, P I h p t a t i o n . c o n s t i t u e n c i e s , -p- R a ilw a y T r a d e Union,;

W ater T r a n s p o r t ;TfadQ Union, B a s t p B e n g a t P l a n t i n g , - L a b o u r : B rim h h g a l .( B y l h e t ) . . B o t h . l i u s i i m and G e n e r a l ^ c o n s t i t u e n c i e s

had I ; s e a t ' r e s e r v e d : f o r women, A n o th e r - l a d y member was e l e c t e d frbm a . g e n e r a l c o n s t i t u e n c y , . ' thus- making t h e t o t a l o f 1 3. ) t

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l , 7 T h e a b o v e / f i g u r e s ;arc b a s e d ’ on l i s t o f members a t t h e s t a r t 7 -7 o f ' s e s s i o n s i n East; B e n g a l ' L e g i s l a t i v e A ssem bly; P r o c e e d i n g s 'AA fia3LAP)? v o l s . and: X I, ; 77f7-N7AA-- 7; -A-Afv- V_A, 7'-;

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s p e c i a l c o u s t i t u e n e i e s - l y \ r e t u r n e d ;. H indu members. F o r e x a m p l e , t h e in c u m b e n ts o f t h e 3 l a n d h o l d e r s and 3 o f t h e k l a b o u r %and; p l a n t a t i o n con were H in d u s.;;'';,

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:.f f . I ; ! 7! / C o m p a r a t i v e l y t h e ' s beond. a sse m b ly had a. f u l 1 e r sittY ing m em hership t h a n :■ t h e - . - . f i r s t . Y lh e n /it/ met - f o r t h e f i r s t S e s s i o n o n ’^ g u s t;;:5 > . 1 9 5 S ^ l t h e i e c e r e 3 0 t . / s i t t i n g ; members. By -

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o f l e a d e r s h i p . ! Tv I t : l o s t ! t h e I s u p p o f t ; o f a few members o v e r t h e ■ y e a r s , bub t h e s e i n s t a n c e s o f d i s a f f a c t i o n s d i d no I weaken t h e o v e r a l l7p a r t y v/ p o s i t i o n , o f monopoly.- -The L eague s o l i c i t e d and

"enjoyed -the . w i l l i n g " s u p p o r t o f t h e S c h e d u le d . C a s t e . / F e d e r a t i o n i n t h e a s s e m b ly ^ :! j/lheYSCr support;; was: / p r , a c t l a l l y '^ i n c o n s e ­ q u e n t i a l to^ f h e f b e a g u e w i t h r e g a r d t o n u m e r i c a l s t r e n g t h f o r i t . 1 . See.- BBLA Pi v o l . X I I . ■ P r o c e e d i n g s .o f t h e - S ep tem b er s e s s i o n Y

■/ were ney/ey I p u b l i s h e d . '. ; D i r e c t o r y Q fith e;. P r o v i n c i a l A ssembly, B a s t P a k i s t a n •: (P i f e e t o r y ) May 1958? / n o t ed 2 v a c a n t s e a t s .

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Y 1 I f -Chapt erY’ l l / Y i s d e v o t e d - t o Ya d i s c u s s i o n , o f p o l i t i c s i n t h e

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y;-I-Y / Y / 2 / y f h l s .■in c l u d i n g : / t h e ; Indep/endents..who Yjcn.ned / t h e E roh t ■■ a f t e r - \/7v y Y y f / b h e e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s w e r e . announced-, 7 o f - t h e component

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>; a h d tth e V lJ n ite d P r o g r e s s r v e / P a r t y ; Were, n u m e r i c a l l y / a n d p o l i t i c a l l y /th e ,;m o f e i m p o r t a n t - among7 them 1 / The :UF and: t h e s e m i n o r i t y . / ' 7 ;. //

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i b k c a u s e l l n ; . t h e / e l e c t o r a l f i e l a t h e y h a d : b e e n on t h e same s i d e / o f t h e / f e n c e a s / i t / w e r e , i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e . r u l i n g Musiim / I h e a g u e ^ 1^/ T h b l d i s u n i t y ’a n d / d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f / t h e F r o n t : . :;r , n e c e s s i t a t e d / c o a l i t i o n7 p o l i t i c s * , t h e / . p o l i t i c a l , .-..antecedents and

/ .d iv id e d ,r:epr e s e n f a t i d h , o f : m i n o r i t y • s e a t s; f a c i l i t a t ed t h e - Vi I c o a l i t i o n s . y t G o h l t t i o n a l . p o l i t i c s and/w eak p a r t y o r g a n ! s a t i o n s '' r r e s u l t e d ; ? . i n f r a g m e n t a t i o n . i n t h e / , r a n k s o f , t h e p a r t i e s . The;

7 p a t t e r n .Was;one ■ o f m u l t i - p a r t y . and m u l t i - f a c t i o n a l / p o l i t i c s . , 1 la n d u n s t a b l e goy/efnm ents. ; - . -i • ' - 1 ..v '1; - "1

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;f /7 ;/;f u h e t i o n e d a s e l e c t o r a l; c o i l ege f o r members o f th e . C o n s t i t u e n t ; : 1177’//lA ssem b ly from t h e p r o v in c e /.: M e e t i h g s . o f •: t h e a s s e m b l y / / i n i t s /

e l ec/t or a l f c a p a c i t y w efe/ n o t / f e c o r d e d i n t h e o f f i c i a l : proceed-- i n g s . n o f w e r e / t h e y /conducted./under t h e . p r o c e d u r a l r u l e s o f ; t h e l a s t B e n g a l a s s e m b ly ,

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C o u s t i t u e n t Assembiy / i n / J u l y 19b7; . t h e .. .Muslim s e a t s w e r e; n o t ; c o n t e s t ed t ! .(:8t at e s m a n . ( C a l c u t t a ) , J u l y 6, 1 9 b 7 ) * I n J u n e

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. . . . . . 1 ■ t h e con s t i t bit i o n ? i n d i c a t i n g t h e t im e land, p l a c e o f m e e tin g .- . i n v p r a c t i c e , ; t h e a s se m b ly was suLmmqned by t h e Governor Oh the.. a d v i c e o f / t h e c h i e f m i n i s t e r . ' \ f h e r e were, g e n e r a l l y t w o - s e s s i o n s in . a ; • ;

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v a r i a t i o n s - , how ever.,1 I n 1 9 5 8 , a b r i e f s e s s i o n was h e l d i n June;

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J u n e 1 9 5 ^ y .t h e r e were. 15 b y - e l e c t i o n s (some, u n c o n t e s t e d ) ahd‘A from A u g u s t- 1 9 5 5 t o May 1958? 3 b y - e l e c t i o n s t o t h e C o n s t i - / • i u e n f , Assembly, from t h e p r o v i n c e . . ( F i g u r e s f o r b y - .e l e c t i o n s

a r e b a s e d on A 1 P h a b e t ic a l L i s t o f Members of t h e E a s t B e n g a l i L e g i s l a t i v e A ssem bly . (Al p h a b e t i c a l L i s t ) , 1’95*8~55 and; . , ■ :,1;;

D i r e c t o r y . l|Tp>Apkwhich, a l s o : c o n t a i n e d l i s t s , o f members AA/ A e l e c t e ‘d;; b y y th e./'a sse m b ly t o t h e c e n t r a l , l e g i s l a t u r e ) , , AAO y 'A ' 1 • E a s t B e n g a l Leg i s l a t i v e A ssem b ly P r o c e d u r e ,.R u le s (P r o c e d u r e .//

-R u l e s ) . S ee R u le 2 . ' The summons o r d e r a s p u b l i s h e d :i n .A A ,'i

• th e. Dacca G a z e t t e Ex t r a o r d i n a r y o f : May, 51 195^ i n d i c a t e d v /

■ . . t h a t t h e E a s t - P a k i s t a n - L e g i s l a t i v e -Assembly had b e e n .

( sunimoned t o meet, a t 3'pi'ni-j'-osri--Tuesday, May 2 2 , 1 9 5 6’i n t h e - - L e g i s l a t i v ' e ‘ Chamber i n - t h e L e g i s l a t i v e b u i l d i n g f . Kamna,

/ . D acca.; S p e a k e r1 s. a t t e n t i o n was drawn b y t h e / o p p o s i t i o n t o . t h e f a c t th a t; u n d e r ' t h e ; c o n s t i t u t i o n ' w h l c h came i n f o r c e i l l . : March. 1 9 5 6, t h e c o r r e c t n o m e n c l a t u r e s / w e r e ‘E a s t- P a k i s t a n . 'A s s e m b ly1 -and (A ssem bly H o u se ’ . I t was c o n te n d e d t h a t t h e /v.; summons t h e r e f o r e Was/'hot- v a l i d . The' S p e a k e r ..ad m itted

t h a t t h e r e !had/.been/ a m i s t a k e , .'a d v is e d t h a t "th e governm ent sh o u ld be m o re c a r e f u l , .b u t r u l e d t h a t / t h e r e was 110 r e a s o n

" f o r , t h e s e s s i o n n o t to ; p r o c e e d ,• because* ’ we h a v e assem b led . a t '.th e r i g h t p l a c e ’ E a s t 'P a k i s t a n Assembly. P r o c e e d in g s

; -7 (EPAP). voiAiXIIXA PP.

2.:/. U n d e r/th e . Governmenti o f: Ih d -ia Act ,\ 1 9 3 5 a s a d a p te d .b y , * . : 1 t h e P a k i s t a n ; ( P r o v iB io h a l: C o n s t i t u t i o n ) , Order, >1957, t h e

/ assem b ly , was t o :.be summoned-, t o meet 'at l e a s t . on ce i n i : ' a y e a r , t w e l v e months ,not. i n t e r v e n i n g , between; two s e s s i o n s . . . The C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e I s l a m i c R e p u b li c o f P a k i s t a n 1958 '■ * l a i d d o w n / t h a t t h e r e - w e r e ' t o be. a t l e a s t tw o . s e s s i o n s i n a

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i a d j o u r n m e n t s a s n o t e d i n t h e o f f i c i a l p r o c e e d i n g s and d o e s n o t t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t y b r i e f a d j o u r n m e n t s , m ain ly ; f o r p r a y e r s5

, d u r i n g d a i l y s i t t i n g s .y F i g u r e s i n Oolumn (5 ) d o ;n o t i n c l u d e

\ t h q - S p e a k e r . y ’A . A ’ A : :A ' y i - A ' A y ' , A A 'A A

c o n c l u d i n g t h e p a s s a g e o f t h e T enancy and c e r t a i n o t h e r h i l l s and w i t h a n o t h e r a d jo u rn m e n t of- e i g h t d a y s , p ro c e e d e d a s i n a b u d g e t s e s s i o n . T h e r e itfas no f u r t h e r s e s s i o n i n 1950. I n 1 9 5 2 , t h e House was s u d d e n ly p r o r o g u e d b e f o r e g e n e r a l d i s c u s s i o n on- t h e b u d g e t c o u l d b e g i n , i n t h e b a c k g ro u n d o f t h e m o u n tin g p o l i t i c a l t e n s i o n r e s u l t i n g fro m p o l i c e f i r i n g on F e b r u a r y 21*

I t was summoned a g a i n i n March when i t met f o r f i v e d a y s and p a s s e d t h e b u d g e t . The l a s t s e s s i o n o f t h e f i r s t a sse m b ly i n 1953 was h e ld e a r l i e r t h a n u s u a l , i n A u g u s t- S e p te m b e r , a f t e r ' . w h ich members p lu n g e d i n t o t h e f i n a l p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r e l e c t i o n

s c h e d u le d f o r t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1 9 5k .

The s e s s i o u a l p a t t e r n s o f t h e second a sse m b ly were ' more v a r i e d and i r r e g u l a r d u e ' t o t h e u n c e r t a i n t i e s o f p o l i t i c a l d e v e lo p m e n ts and p a r t y a l i g n m e n t s o f t h e p e r i o d . B e f o r e t h e - new ly e l e c t e d a s s e m b ly c o u ld m eet f o r , a s e s s i o n , p a r l i a m e n t a r y g o v ern m en t was su sp en d e d i n t h e p r o v i n c e i n May 195k. A f t e r t h e l i f t i n g o f G o v e r n o r ’ s r u l e i n J u n e 1955? t h e a sse m b ly met f o r t h e f i r s t t im e on A ugust 5 t o e l e c t t h e S p e a k e r and d e p u ty . -

s p e a k e r . The n ew ly form ed UF c o a l i t i o n g o v e rn m e n t l a c k e d e le m e n t o f s t a b l e m a j o r i t y and t h e a sse m b ly was- n o t c a l l e d a g a i n u n t i l May 2 2, 1956 i n s p i t e o f some p e r s i s t e n t demands f o r e a r l i e r

1 ^-

m e e ti n g s f r o m . t h e o p p o s i t i o n . The s e s s i o n , i n t e n d e d f o r

p a s s i n g t h e b u d g e t , a g a i n i n f a c t l a s t e d f o r a d a y . The S p e a k e r u p h e ld t h e o p p o s i t i o n p o i n t o f o r d e r t h a t t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e b u d g e t so l a t e i n t h e y e a r and t h e l i m i t e d tim e a l l o t t e d

f o r p a s s i n g I t went beyond t h e bounds o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o p r i e t y ,

; and r e f u s e d p e r m i s s i o n t o t h e f i n a n c e m i n i s t e r t o p r e s e n t t h e - b u d g e t. T h e, a s s e m b ly was a d jo u r n e d s i n e d i e, and s u b s e q u e n t l y . 1 . 1 F o r rvoxampie.-KW® Dawn. O c t, 8, 2 6, Nov. 8 ( l e t t e r t o t h e

; ; ed i t o r ) $ "D e 0% ,13 5 1955) F e b . 2 8 , 1956*

r Cays and hours'- o f s i t t i n g , a t t e n d a n c e o f members d u r in g v s e s s ic>ns o f t h e . a s s e n i b l y , .1 9 5^*"5S» by ; v v

S e s s i o n s l y v y P e r i o d s : Days o f > H ours o f : .... ; A tte n d a n c e B i t t i n g a , S i t t a :-ngstv i y o f Members*

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Xay 2 2 - 2 ^ ,1 9 5 6 y 11 / :>1 5 “ 293

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i v . h; I ? ? 6 - ^- . 1 6 ^. _ _> ^■ rj ti / / / / ' : 2 68

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V II,,;; : . M^e, 1 3fApi-., i ,1 9 5 8 ' ; ^ »« _{1 5} “ 7 272 :

V I I I • ■ ; ^ p i p ; j h 9 5 8 } ; : v; ■■^. 1 iv 3 0 “ ■ 276

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; (N o te: . A n o th e r s e s s io h y w a s h e l d .d u r in g Cep,,; 2 0 - 2 5> 1958 , and . t h e

■ - a s s embly met on f Iv s d a y s a d d e d t o column (3 ), i n t h e T a b l e , i t w ould ;mafeb, a t o t a l : o f 83 d a y s ■■of', s i t t i n g , " . The S e s s i o n : d a s , -marked by .e x tre m e -^ir.re■gaLai*it'ies/■td^n:d■■ on ;2 .days i t a d j o u r n e d :

w i t h o u t p i a c t i b a l l y ’.^ ^ .'t .r a h 's a c ’ti^pn' of . / b u s i n e s s ; , No o f f i c i a l ,

•; 1 - ^ p r o c e e d i n g s . Of t h i s ’s e s s i o n r w e r e i p b b i ^ and c o m p le te ',d a ta ^ f o r colum ns (b) and i ( 5 ) t o i l th e; T a b l e ,9 a r e : n o t a v a i l a b l e , *. A lso : , ■ see; ih e y n o te ^ - f ^ b ^ d h ' p . 9 ^'), ,■ ;

.. prorogued.. on May 2b. , On A ugust 13,. as members a sse m b le d in . t h e ■

; chambQ3t - t h e -Speaker r e a d o u t t h e vprof o g a t i o n o r d e r I i s s u e d e a r l i e r . i n - t h e d a y ! ! -T he governm ent i s d e c i s i o n n o t ; ' t o - -allowA'th-e a s s e m b ly