Correct option is A
Correct Answer:A) Govind Ballabh Pant
Explanation:
- On 27 August 1947, during the Constituent Assembly debates, Govind Ballabh Pant strongly opposed the idea of separate electorates, stating that it would be suicidal for minorities.
- He argued that separate electorates would only further divide the nation and create barriers between communities, which could hinder the unity of India.
- His view was that a common electoral system was essential for fostering national integration and preventing the recurrence of communal divisions that had led to the partition of India.
Information Booster:
- Govind Ballabh Pant was a prominent leader in the freedom movement and later became the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
- The separate electorate system was introduced by the British under the Indian Councils Act of 1909 and later expanded under the Government of India Act 1919 & 1935.
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar initially supported separate electorates for Dalits, but later agreed to the Poona Pact of 1932, which introduced reserved seats instead.
- The Communal Award of 1932 granted separate electorates to various communities, but was widely opposed by national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi.
- The Constituent Assembly of India ultimately rejected separate electorates in favor of a unified universal adult franchise system.