Delhi’s first assembly election: A journey back to 1952

Jag Pravesh Chandra often turned emotional when recalling the traumatic days of arriving at Delhi Junction after Partition in 1947. Remarkably, within just five years, he was elected to the Delhi Assembly in 1952, representing the Kishanganj seat. Later, Jag Pravesh Chandra went on to serve as Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of Delhi from 1983 to 1990. The CEC’s post was equivalent to that of a Chief Minister. “This city has given so much that even my next generations will remain indebted to it. I came here empty-handed and became CEC,” he used to say at his Kushak Road residence, allotted to him during his tenure as CEC. Notably, when the Delhi Assembly was restored in 1993, he was again elected, this time from the Kasturba Nagar seat.

Even HKL Bhagat, a towering figure in Delhi’s political landscape, contested and won from the Kucha Habash Khan seat in the 1952 polls. Both Chandra and Bhagat ran as Congress candidates.

Fight for 48 seats

As the Delhi Assembly elections draw near, it is a fitting moment to revisit the historic 1952 polls. Held on March 27, 1952, alongside India’s first Lok Sabha election, the poll saw 48 Assembly seats up for grabs. The major parties vying for control of the 48-member Delhi Assembly included Congress, Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Kisan Mazdoor Party, Socialist Party, and Hindu Maha Sabha.

Noted journalist KN Gupta, who was in college at the time, recalls, “The Bharatiya Jan Sangh was formed just months before the election, on October 21, 1951, at Raghumal Kanya Vidyalaya near Connaught Place. Leaders like Balraj Madhok and Hans Raj Gupta exhorted their cadres to work hard to capture power. Hans Raj Gupta later became Mayor of Delhi, and a road in Greater Kailash is named after him.” Balraj Madhok, meanwhile, went on to become a Lok Sabha MP from South Delhi.

Who were the key Congress leaders?

Though Congress’s victory was widely anticipated, there was considerable curiosity about how many seats it would secure. Congress boasted a formidable lineup of leaders, including Dr Sushila Nayar (Dev Nagar), Ch Brahm Prakash (Nangloi), Mustaq Rai Khanna (Mantola), Dr Yudhvir Singh (Chandni Chowk), Barrister Nuruddin Ahmad (Chawri Bazar), Gurmukh Nihal Singh (Daryaganj), Chinta Mani (Shahdara), and Raghvendra Singh (Delhi Cantt). These figures were well-known in the capital’s socio-political circles.

It is worth noting that Gurmukh Nihal Singh’s son, S Nihal Singh, later became editor of The Indian Express. Raghvendra Singh, on the other hand, was the founder of DLF, a name synonymous with real estate development in Delhi.

Issues of the campaign

“The campaign for the first Delhi Assembly election revolved largely around the rehabilitation of refugees from Pakistan,” says Dr Raj Kumar Jain, a veteran political activist. “Around 10 lakh refugees arrived in Delhi, changing the city’s demographics. Their welfare was the central poll plank for all parties. The Jan Sangh, contesting 31 seats, was particularly vocal in championing the rights of refugees.”

Setback for Congress

Despite its dominant position, Congress faced some challenges. One of the most significant setbacks came from Mir Mustaq Ahmad, a prominent leader who left the party to contest from the Kucha Chelan seat as a Socialist Party candidate. Ahmad, a mass leader with a legacy dating back to the Quit India Movement, later explained in 1988, “I opposed Congress because it abandoned Gandhiji’s ideals after independence. I won my seat, which greatly upset the Congress leadership.”

Mir Mustaq Ahmad was also known for disrupting public meetings held by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Later in his career, he rejoined Congress and even served as Delhi’s CEC.

Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru personally addressed several campaign meetings, including in areas like Sabzi Mandi and Daryaganj, to bolster Congress’s prospects.

Also Read: Delhi: Why North and South blocks may fade, but their legacy won’t

After a peaceful polling process, Congress swept the election, winning 37 of the 48 seats. However, it suffered unexpected defeats in some constituencies. Candidates like Amin Chand (Reading Road, now New Delhi seat), Ghardhari Lal Salwan (Jhandewalan), and Hem Chandra Jain (Pahari Dhiraj) won on Jan Sangh tickets. Salwan, incidentally, was the founder of the Salwan Schools. Independent candidate Bhum Singh surprised many by winning the Khanjhawla seat.

MS Oberoi’s campaign in Civil Lines

Among the notable candidates was hotelier MS Oberoi, who contested as an Independent from the Civil Lines seat. Although he lost, Oberoi later emerged as a leading figure in India’s hospitality industry. At the time of the election, he was the owner of Oberoi Maidens and later built the Oberoi Intercontinental in the 1960s.

From the Kingsway Camp seat, journalist Rana Jang Bahadur Singh won on a Jan Sangh ticket. Known for his vibrant personality, Singh had been editor of The Tribune in Lahore before moving to Delhi post-Partition. He famously campaigned on a bicycle.

An unexpected Chief Minister

After the results were declared, Dr Sushila Nayar was widely expected to become Delhi’s first Chief Minister. However, Congress leadership surprised many by appointing Ch Brahm Prakash instead. Gurmukh Nihal Singh became Speaker of the Assembly, while Dr Sushila Nayar and Dr Yudhvir Singh were inducted into the Cabinet.

Dr Sushila Nayar, though senior to Brahm Prakash in both politics and public service, accepted the position of Health Minister without complaint. A close associate of Gandhiji, she had been his personal physician and was the younger sister of his private secretary, Pyare Nayar. She also played a pivotal role in establishing the Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Faridabad and inspired countless doctors to serve in rural areas.

Why Brahm Prakash was sacked

Ch Brahm Prakash’s tenure as Chief Minister was marked by tensions with the Congress high command. He demanded greater autonomy for the Delhi government—a demand echoed decades later by Arvind Kejriwal. His uncompromising stance eventually led to his removal. Brahm Prakash served as Chief Minister from March 17, 1952, to February 12, 1955.

After his dismissal, Gurmukh Nihal Singh took over as Chief Minister, serving from February 13, 1955, to October 31, 1956. A staunch prohibitionist, he resisted the opening of liquor shops in Delhi and was later appointed as Rajasthan’s first Governor. Born in 1895 in Rawalpindi, Nihal Singh also taught at Shri Ram College before entering politics.

Since 1952, Delhi has undergone dramatic changes, growing in every direction. As the capital heads towards another election, it remains to be seen which issues will dominate the campaign this time.