Burmese general election, 1951–1952
Encyclopedia
Burma's first general elections held as an independent state took place over several months between June 1951 and April 1952, due to internal conflict
within the country.
The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
(AFPFL) won 60% of the vote and 147 out of 250 seats. Turnout for the election was low at 20%, as only 1.5 million voters out of an eligible 8 million participated. It was the lowest turnout for a Burmese election since the 1920s boycotts in colonial Burma.
¹ AFPFL allies included the Burma Socialist Party
, the All-Burma Peasants Organisation, the Burma Muslim Congress
, the Kachin National Congress, the United Karen League, the Chin Congress, the United Hill People's Congress, the All-Burma Women's Freedom League and the All-Burma Federation of Trade Organisations.
² The People's Democratic Front was an alliance of the Burma Workers and Peasants Party
, the Patriotic Alliance and the Burma Democratic Party.
Internal conflict in Burma
The internal conflict in Burma is a term that is employed to refer to the current violence in Burma that has existed since approximately April 1948 between the Burmese government and the various ethnic groups in the country. More recently, the conflict has been against the military regime that has...
within the country.
The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League , or hpa hsa pa la by its Burmese acronym, was the main political party in Burma from 1945 until 1962...
(AFPFL) won 60% of the vote and 147 out of 250 seats. Turnout for the election was low at 20%, as only 1.5 million voters out of an eligible 8 million participated. It was the lowest turnout for a Burmese election since the 1920s boycotts in colonial Burma.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League , or hpa hsa pa la by its Burmese acronym, was the main political party in Burma from 1945 until 1962... |
60 | 147 | ||
| AFPFL allies¹ | 52 | New | ||
| People's Democratic Front² | 13 | New | ||
| Arkan National Unity Organisation | 6 | New | ||
| Independents | 15 | |||
| Vacant | ||||
| 11 | ||||
| Invalid/blank votes | ||||
| Total | 1,500,000 | 100 | 250 | +40 |
| Source: Nohlen et al. | ||||
¹ AFPFL allies included the Burma Socialist Party
Burma Socialist Party
The Burma Socialist Party, initially known as the People's Freedom Party was a political party in Burma. BSP was the dominant party in Burmese politics after 1948. It was the dominant political force inside the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League.The party was founded in September 1945. It was a...
, the All-Burma Peasants Organisation, the Burma Muslim Congress
Burma Muslim Congress
The Burma Muslim Congress , was founded almost at the same time as the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League of General Aung San and U Nu before World War II. On 25 December 1945 in Pyin Mana, U Razak was elected the President of BMC and decided to join AFPFL. U Razak was elected AFPFL President in...
, the Kachin National Congress, the United Karen League, the Chin Congress, the United Hill People's Congress, the All-Burma Women's Freedom League and the All-Burma Federation of Trade Organisations.
² The People's Democratic Front was an alliance of the Burma Workers and Peasants Party
Burma Workers Party
The Burma Workers Party, until 1958 the Burma Workers and Peasants Party, was a communist party in Burma, formed on December 8, 1950, by leftist elements of the Socialist Party. In December 1962 it merged with the People's Comrade Party to form the United Workers Party...
, the Patriotic Alliance and the Burma Democratic Party.