# 1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election

The Kerala Legislative Assembly election of 1960 was the second assembly election in the Indian state of Kerala. The elections were held on 1 February 1960.

## Background

In the 1957 elections in Kerala, the Communist Party of India formed the government with the support of five independents. But in 1959, the Central Government dismissed the democratically elected government through the controversial Article 356 of the Indian Constitution following "The Liberation Struggle", even though the elected communist government was enjoying majority support within the legislature. After a short period of the President's rule, fresh elections were called in 1960.

## Constituencies

There were 114 legislative assembly constituencies in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, 1957. Out of these 102 were single-member constituencies while the number of double-member constituencies was 12. One constituency was reserved for Schedule Caste. There were 64,77,665 electors in single-member constituencies, while in double-member constituencies there were 15,63,333 electors. Total 312 candidates contested for the 126 seats of the 114 constituencies in the Assembly. Poll percentage was 85.72%, an increase of 20.23% from 65.49% in 1957 assembly elections.

## Political parties

Four national parties, Communist Party of India, Indian National Congress, Praja Socialist Party and Bharatiya Jana Sangha along with the state party Muslim League took part in the assembly election. In these elections, the Indian National Congress, Praja Socialist Party, and Indian Union Muslim League formed a pre-poll alliance to counter the Communist Party of India. Together they fielded 125 candidates and supported an independent candidate, while the Communist Party of India fielded 108 candidates and gave party support to 16 independents.

## Results

Summary of results of the 1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election :
| Political Party | Seats Contested | Won | Net Change in seats | % of Seats | Votes | Vote % | Change in vote % | Vote % in contested seats |
| Bharatiya Jana Sangh | 3 | 0 | New | 0 | 5,277 | 0.07 | New | 3.28 |
| Communist Party of India | 108 | 29 | 31 | 23.02 | 3,171,732 | 39.14 | 3.86 | 43.79 |
| Indian National Congress | 80 | 63 | 20 | 50.00 | 2,789,556 | 34.42 | 3.43 | 45.37 |
| Praja Socialist Party | 33 | 20 | 11 | 15.87 | 1,146,028 | 14.14 | 3.38 | 38.41 |
| IUML | 12 | 11 | New | 8.73 | 401,925 | 4.96 | New | 47.79 |
| Independent | 61 | 3 | 11 | 4.17 | 488,699 | 5.93 | -5.61 | 13.96 |
| | Total Seats | 126 ( 0) | Voters | 9,604,331 | Turnout | 8,232,572 (85.72%) | 8,232,572 (85.72%) | 8,232,572 (85.72%) |

### By constituency

| A. C. NO. | Assembly Constituency Name | Category | Winner Candidates Name | Gender | Party | Vote | Runner-up Candidates Name | Gender | Party | Vote |
| 1 | Parassala | GEN | M. Kunjukrishnan Nadar | M | IND | 18848 | Thangayyan | M | CPI | 18096 |
| 2 | Neyyattinkara | GEN | P. Narayanan Thampi | M | PSP | 31707 | R. Janardhanan Nair | M | CPI | 30756 |
| 3 | Vilappil | GEN | Ponnara G. Sreedhar | M | PSP | 27929 | Surendranath | M | CPI | 24732 |
| 4 | Nemom | GEN | Viswambaran | M | PSP | 28573 | A. Sadasivan | M | CPI | 22918 |
| 5 | Trivandrum I | GEN | B. P. Eapen | M | PSP | 27328 | Krishnan Nair | M | CPI | 20385 |
| 6 | Trivandrum II | GEN | Pattom Thanupillai | M | PSP | 35175 | K. Anirudhan | M | CPI | 25917 |
| 7 | Ullur | GEN | M. Alikunju Sastri | M | PSP | 30269 | K. P. Alikunju | M | CPI | 24939 |
| 8 | Arianad | GEN | Antony Dcruz | M | PSP | 25351 | K. C. George | M | CPI | 22258 |
| 9 | Nedumangad | GEN | N. Neelakandaru Pandarathil | M | CPI | 27797 | P. S. Nataraja Pillai | M | PSP | 25685 |
| 10 | Attingal | GEN | N. Kunjuraman | M | INC | 28050 | R. Prakasam | M | CPI | 27920 |
| 11 | Varkala | GEN | Balakrishnan | M | CPI | 50231 | Balakrishnan | M | CPI | 50114 |
| 12 | Eravipuram | GEN | Ravindran | M | CPI | 25548 | Bhaskara Pillai | M | PSP | 23689 |
| 13 | Quilon | GEN | A. A. Rahim | M | INC | 25083 | P. K. Sukumaran | M | CPI | 18791 |
| 14 | Thrikkadavur | GEN | C. M. Stephen | M | INC | 48618 | Krishnan | M | INC | 46244 |
| 15 | Karunagappally | GEN | Baby John | M | IND | 21238 | Kunjukrishnan | M | INC | 21030 |
| 16 | Krishnapuram | GEN | P. K. Kunju | M | PSP | 28247 | Karthikeyan | M | INC | 27583 |
| 17 | Kayamkulam | GEN | Aysha Bai | F | CPI | 30727 | Hemachandran | M | INC | 29467 |
| 18 | Karthigapally | GEN | R. Sugathan | M | CPI | 30832 | A. Achuthan | M | PSP | 28433 |
| 19 | Haripad | GEN | N. S. Krishna Pillai | M | INC | 31389 | Ramakrishna Pillai | M | IND | 21080 |
| 20 | Mavelikara | GEN | Gopala Kurup | M | CPI | 54340 | Kunjachan | M | CPI | 54042 |
| 21 | Kunnathur | GEN | G. Candrasekhara Pillai | M | INC | 51101 | P. C. Adichen | M | CPI | 49253 |
| 22 | Kottarakkara | (SC) | Damodaran Pott | M | PSP | 27909 | Chandrasekharan Nair | M | CPI | 25741 |
| 23 | Chadayamangalam | GEN | K. Bhargavan | M | CPI | 25412 | M. Abdul Majeed | M | PSP | 25290 |
| 24 | Pathanapuram | GEN | Balakrishna Pillai | M | INC | 35136 | Rajagopalan Nair | M | CPI | 30601 |
| 25 | Punalur | GEN | K. Krishna Pillai | M | CPI | 26415 | Sathibhai | F | INC | 23042 |
| 26 | Ranni | GEN | Vayala Idicula | M | INC | 34560 | E. M. Thomas | M | CPI | 24426 |
| 27 | Pathanamthitta | GEN | C. K. Harichandran Nair | M | PSP | 36660 | K. Karunakaran Nair | M | CPI | 28194 |
| 28 | Aranmula | GEN | K. Gopinathan Pillai | M | INC | 31899 | R. Gopalakrishna Pillai | M | CPI | 20295 |
| 29 | Kallooppara | GEN | M. M. Mathai | M | INC | 32270 | Viwanathan Nair | M | IND | 14015 |
| 30 | Thiruvalla | GEN | P. Chacko | M | INC | 36092 | Padmanabhan Thampi | M | CPI | 20026 |
| 31 | Chengannur | GEN | K. R. Saraswathy Amma | F | INC | 31964 | R. Rajasekharan Thampi | M | CPI | 19063 |
| 32 | Alleppey | GEN | Nabisath Beevi | F | INC | 33443 | T. V. Thomas | M | CPI | 29650 |
| 33 | Mararikulam | GEN | S. Kumaran | M | CPI | 31826 | Devaki Krishnan | F | INC | 24476 |
| 34 | Sherthala | GEN | K. R. Gouri | F | CPI | 29883 | Subramania Pillai | M | INC | 28377 |
| 35 | Aroor | GEN | Karthikeyan | M | INC | 29403 | Sadasivan | M | CPI | 27265 |
| 36 | Thakashi | GEN | Thomas John | M | INC | 33079 | Gopalakrishna Pillai | M | IND | 20961 |
| 37 | Changanacherry | GEN | N. Bhaskaran Nair | M | INC | 31935 | A. M. Kalyanskrishnan Nair | M | CPI | 22542 |
| 38 | Vazhoor | GEN | Velappan | M | INC | 27566 | Purushothaman Pillai | M | CPI | 20504 |
| 39 | Kanjirappally | GEN | K. T. Thomas | M | INC | 28310 | K. S. Mustafaz Kamal | M | IND | 21422 |
| 40 | Puthuppally | GEN | P. C. Cherian | M | INC | 30260 | M. Thomas | M | CPI | 22349 |
| 41 | Kottayam | GEN | M. P. Govindan Nair | M | INC | 29020 | N. Raghava Kurup | M | CPI | 27863 |
| 42 | Ettumanoor | GEN | George Joseph Podipara | M | INC | 30925 | Sankunny Menon | M | CPI | 22367 |
| 43 | Meenachil | GEN | P. T. Chacko (Thomas) | M | INC | 30745 | Jacob Cherian | M | CPI | 15644 |
| 44 | Vaikom | GEN | Sreenivasan | M | CPI | 32707 | Pavithran | M | INC | 30638 |
| 45 | Kaduthuruthy | GEN | Abraham Chummar | M | INC | 32615 | Umadevi Antharjanam | F | CPI | 17316 |
| 46 | Ramamangalam | GEN | E. P. Poulose | M | INC | 32448 | P. V. Abraham | M | CPI | 19871 |
| 47 | Muvattupuzha | GEN | K. M. George | M | INC | 33520 | K. C. Abraham | M | IND | 20907 |
| 48 | Devikulam | GEN | Murugesan Thiruvengadan | M | INC | 75141 | M. M. Sundaram | M | CPI | 72801 |
| 49 | Thodupuzha | GEN | Mathew | M | INC | 34156 | Jose Abraham | M | CPI | 13899 |
| 50 | Karikode | GEN | Kosumom Joseph | F | INC | 29907 | Saidu Monammad Sahib | M | IND | 13621 |
| 51 | Poonjar | GEN | T. A. Thomman | M | INC | 35722 | Kumara Menon | M | CPI | 14364 |
| 52 | Puliyannur | GEN | K. M. Joseph Chazhikattu | M | PSP | 34781 | Ulahanan | M | CPI | 14503 |
| 53 | Palluruthy | GEN | Alexander Parambithara | M | INC | 33541 | Kerala Varma Thampuran | M | IND | 26304 |
| 54 | Mattancherry | GEN | K. K. Viswanathan | M | INC | 32997 | Ratnam Ranganath Rai | F | IND | 18411 |
| 55 | Neenakkal | GEN | K. C. Abraham | M | INC | 31212 | P. R. Leghnan | M | CPI | 28322 |
| 56 | Ernakulam | GEN | A. L. Jacob | M | INC | 32001 | V. Viswanatha Menon | M | CPI | 25108 |
| 57 | Kanayannur | GEN | T. K. Ramakrishnan | M | CPI | 31582 | K. R. Narayanan | M | INC | 29101 |
| 58 | Alwaye | GEN | T. O. Chacko | M | INC | 34484 | M. M. Abdul Kadir | M | CPI | 28867 |
| 59 | Perumbavoor | GEN | K. M. Chacko | M | INC | 31718 | Govinda Pillai | M | CPI | 25918 |
| 60 | Kothakulangara | GEN | M. A. Antony | M | INC | 38681 | Kurian | M | CPI | 19872 |
| 61 | Parur | GEN | K. A. Damodara Menon | M | INC | 30369 | N. Siran Pillai | M | CPI | 26371 |
| 62 | Vadakkekara | GEN | K. R. Vijayan | M | INC | 27200 | K. A. Balan | M | CPI | 26121 |
| 63 | Cranganore | GEN | P. K. Abdul Kadir | M | INC | 33679 | E. Gopalakrishna Menon | M | CPI | 26164 |
| 64 | Chalakkudy | GEN | C. G. Janardhanan | M | PSP | 66618 | K. K. Balakrishnan | M | INC | 66454 |
| 65 | Irinjalakuda | GEN | C. Achutha Menon | M | CPI | 29069 | P. Achutha Menon | M | PSP | 28708 |
| 66 | Manalur | GEN | Kuruineelakantan Namboothiripad | M | INC | 30291 | Joseph Mundassari | M | CPI | 27677 |
| 67 | Trichur | GEN | T. A. Dharmaraja Iyer | M | INC | 30277 | K. Balakrishna Menon | M | IND | 29814 |
| 68 | Ollur | GEN | P. R. Francis | M | INC | 29950 | V. V. Raghavan | M | CPI | 27091 |
| 69 | Kunnamkulam | GEN | P. R. Krishnan | M | INC | 29450 | T. K. Krishnan | M | CPI | 26878 |
| 70 | Wadakkanchery | GEN | K. Balakrishna Menon | M | PSP | 46052 | Kochukuttan | M | INC | 45726 |
| 71 | Nattika | GEN | K. T. Achuthan | M | INC | 29235 | T. K. Raman | M | CPI | 28796 |
| 72 | Guruvayoor | GEN | K. G. Karunakara | M | INC | 26083 | K. Damodaran | M | CPI | 25075 |
| 73 | Andathodu | GEN | B. V. Seethi Thangal | M | ML | 26615 | K. Govinda Kutty Menon | M | CPI | 22621 |
| 74 | Ponnani | GEN | Kunhambu Kallen | M | INC | 45326 | Cherukoya Thangal | M | ML | 43360 |
| 75 | Kushalmannam | GEN | Kuduvakottu John | M | CPI | 28817 | T. A. Balakrishnan | M | INC | 17785 |
| 76 | Alathur | GEN | R. Krishnan | M | CPI | 31159 | A. Sunna Sahib | M | INC | 21935 |
| 77 | Chittur | GEN | P. Balachandra Menon | M | CPI | 48241 | Narayanan Thandan | M | CPI | 48156 |
| 78 | Elapully | GEN | A. K. Ramankutty Nair | M | CPI | 24958 | T. K. Kelukutty | M | INC | 18119 |
| 79 | Palghat | GEN | R. Ranghava Menon | M | INC | 26546 | K. C. Gopalanunni | M | CPI | 24788 |
| 80 | Parli | GEN | A. R. Menon | M | CPI | 33605 | A. S. Divakaran | M | PSP | 16545 |
| Bye Polls in 1960 | Parli | | M.V.Vasu | M | COM | 25977 | A.S.Divakaran | M | PSP | 13760 |
| 81 | Mannarghat | GEN | Krishnan Kongaseri | M | CPI | 25060 | M. P. Govinda Menon | M | PSP | 18999 |
| 82 | Perinthalmanna | GEN | E. P. Gopalan | M | CPI | 24866 | Moideenkutty Melevostti | M | ML | 20339 |
| 83 | Ottapalam | GEN | Kunhunni Nayar | M | CPI | 24741 | Chandrasekhara Kurup | M | PSP | 18118 |
| 84 | Pattambi | GEN | E. M. Sankaran Namboodiripad | M | CPI | 26478 | A. Raghavan Nair | M | INC | 19156 |
| 85 | Mankada | GEN | P. Abdul Majeed | M | ML | 24343 | Pookunhi Koya Thangal | M | CPI | 20037 |
| 86 | Tirur | GEN | K. Moideenkutty Haji | M | ML | 28518 | K. P. Bavakutty | M | CPI | 16603 |
| 87 | Tanur | GEN | C. H. Mohammad Koya | M | ML | 27893 | Nadukkandy Mohammad Koya | M | CPI | 8445 |
| 88 | Kuttippuram | GEN | Seethi Sahib | M | ML | 29073 | Kunhikrishnan Thorakkadu | M | CPI | 12430 |
| 89 | Thirurangady | GEN | Avukkadarkutty Hajee Naha | M | ML | 34749 | M. Koya Kunhi Naha Hajee | M | CPI | 18049 |
| 90 | Malappuram | GEN | K. Hassan Gani | M | ML | 32947 | Sadhu P. Ahammad Kutty | M | CPI | 12118 |
| 91 | Manjeri | GEN | P. P. Ummer Koya | M | INC | 69700 | Chandayan Muniadan | M | ML | 66028 |
| 92 | Kandotty | GEN | M. P. M. Ahammad Kurikkal | M | ML | 33167 | Momukutty Moulavi | M | IND | 11860 |
| 93 | Kozhikode I | GEN | O. T. Sarada Krishnan | F | INC | 30638 | Krishnan Kallat | M | CPI | 24732 |
| 94 | Kozhikode I I | GEN | P. Kumaran | M | INC | 33587 | Appu Adiuolil | M | IND | 20613 |
| 95 | Chevayur | GEN | Raghavan Nair | M | CPI | 29063 | A. Balagopalan | M | INC | 28357 |
| 96 | Kunnamangalam | GEN | Leela Damodara Menon | F | INC | 34539 | Chathunni | M | CPI | 22608 |
| 97 | Koduvally | GEN | Gopalakutty Nair | M | INC | 37483 | M. V. Alikoya | M | IND | 16214 |
| 98 | Balusseri | GEN | M. Narayana Kuruf | M | PSP | 32423 | K. Kalandankutty | M | IND | 22983 |
| 99 | Quilandy | GEN | Kunhiraman Nabbiar | M | PSP | 40361 | Ramakrishnan | M | IND | 21083 |
| 100 | Perambra | GEN | P. K. Narayanan Nambiar | M | PSP | 38272 | Kumaran Madathil | M | CPI | 27472 |
| 101 | Badagara | GEN | M. Krishnan | M | PSP | 32552 | M. K. Kelu | M | CPI | 22824 |
| 102 | Nadapuram | GEN | Hameed Ali Shemnad | M | ML | 34893 | C. H. Kanaran | M | CPI | 27846 |
| 103 | Wynad | GEN | Balakrishnan Nambiar | M | INC | 79235 | Madhura Vazhavatta | M | INC | 77380 |
| 104 | Kuthuparamba | GEN | P. Ramunni Kurup | M | PSP | 42338 | Aboo | M | IND | 18691 |
| 105 | Mattannur | GEN | N. E. Balaram | M | CPI | 31119 | Achuthan | M | PSP | 31034 |
| 106 | Tellicherry | GEN | P. Kunhiraman | M | INC | 28380 | V. R. Krishna Iyar | M | IND | 28357 |
| 107 | Cannanore I | GEN | R. Sankar | M | INC | 33313 | Kannan Chaliyoth | M | CPI | 23859 |
| 108 | Cannanore II | GEN | Madhavan Pamban | M | INC | 31252 | K. P. Gopalan | M | CPI | 27563 |
| 109 | Madayi | GEN | Prahladan Gopalan | M | INC | 30829 | K. P. R. Gopalan | M | CPI | 30568 |
| 110 | Irikkur | GEN | T. C. Narayanaan Nambiar | M | CPI | 31769 | M. P. Moidu Hajee Melekandy | M | INC | 30489 |
| 111 | Nileswar | GEN | C. Kunhikrshna Nair | M | INC | 59513 | Koran Olaikkapurakal | M | PSP | 59340 |
| 112 | Hosdrug | GEN | K. Chandrasekharan | M | PSP | 27862 | K. Madhavan | M | CPI | 22315 |
| 113 | Kasaragod | GEN | M. Kunhikannan Nambiar | M | INC | 19399 | Anantharama Chetty | M | IND | 15747 |
| 114 | Manjeshwar | GEN | Kalige Mahabala Bhandary | M | IND | 23129 | Kamappa Master | M | CPI | 13131 |

## Government formation

Congress and Praja Socialist Party alliance got the majority in the election and hence formed the government. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai of the Praja Socialist Party became the chief minister and R. Sankar of the Indian National Congress became the deputy chief minister on 22 February 1960, with eleven council ministers.
Pattam A. Thanu Pillai resigned on 26 September 1962 after he was appointed as the Governor of Punjab and R. Sankar became the first Congress Chief Minister of Kerala.