United Front (
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
: Aikya Munnani), known until 1971 as Mini Front (1970–1971) and as Maxi Front (1971–1979) thereafter, was a coalition of political parties in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
state,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, which was the ruling combine in the state from 1970 to 1979 (4th and 5th Kerala Legislative Assemblies). The coalition was formed by five political parties immediately before the 1970 Kerala Legislative Assembly election. It saw the inclusion a few other parties in the following years.
*
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
(INC)
*
Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India (CPI) is the oldest Marxist–Leninist communist party in India and one of the nine national parties in the country. The CPI was founded in modern-day Kanpur (formerly known as Cawnpore) on 26 December 1925.
H ...
(CPI)
*
Indian Union Muslim League
The Indian Union Muslim League (abbreviated as the I. U. M. L. or the League) is an Indian political party primarily based in the Indian state of Kerala. It is recognised as a State Party in Kerala by the Election Commission of India.
The first ...
(IUML)
*
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)
*
Praja Socialist Party
The Praja Socialist Party, abbreviated as PSP, was an Indian political party. It was founded when the Socialist Party, led by Jayaprakash Narayan, Rambriksh Benipuri, Acharya Narendra Deva and Basawon Singh (Sinha), merged with the Kisan Mazdoo ...
(PSP)
*
Kerala Congress
Kerala Congress is an Indian political party founded at Kottayam, Kerala in October, 1964, by a block of former Indian National Congress leaders led by K. M. George. The party is primarily active in central Kerala.
The establishment of Kerala ...
(later joined)
United Front was dissolved in 1979 after the constituent parties left the coalition in order to form new political coalitions, viz. the
Left Democratic Front
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the state of Kerala, India. It is the current ruling political alliance of Kerala, since 2016. It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the oth ...
and the
United Democratic Front.
Background
United Front Government (1967–1969)
The
1967 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
The Kerala Legislative Assembly election of 1967 was held to constitute the fourth assembly in Kerala. This election, which was held after the 1965 one ended up in no government formation, resulted in the newly formed United Front alliance form ...
had seen the formation and dissolution of
Seven Party Front, a coalition of seven parties,
*
Communist Party of India Marxist (CPIM)
*
Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India (CPI) is the oldest Marxist–Leninist communist party in India and one of the nine national parties in the country. The CPI was founded in modern-day Kanpur (formerly known as Cawnpore) on 26 December 1925.
H ...
(CPI)
*
Indian Union Muslim League
The Indian Union Muslim League (abbreviated as the I. U. M. L. or the League) is an Indian political party primarily based in the Indian state of Kerala. It is recognised as a State Party in Kerala by the Election Commission of India.
The first ...
(IUML)
*
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)
*
Indian Socialist Party
The Indian Socialist Party was a political party in the Indian state of Kerala. ISP was founded in May 1969, by the majority of the erstwhile Kerala Samyukta Socialist Party (a splinter group of the Samyukta Socialist Party). The two KSSP ministe ...
(ISP)
*
Kerala Socialist Party
Kerala Socialist Party (KSP) is a political party in India founded under the leadership of Mathai Manjooran on 21 September 1947 at Kozhikode. It began as a small party, but its front-line leaders compelled the party deep into the public imagina ...
(KSP)
*
Karshaka Thozhilali Party (KTP)
This coalition was also known as the United Front.
Mini Front Government (1969–1970)
Due to internal conflicts between CPIM and CPI, this coalition broke in October 1969 and
*
Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India (CPI) is the oldest Marxist–Leninist communist party in India and one of the nine national parties in the country. The CPI was founded in modern-day Kanpur (formerly known as Cawnpore) on 26 December 1925.
H ...
(CPI)
*
Indian Union Muslim League
The Indian Union Muslim League (abbreviated as the I. U. M. L. or the League) is an Indian political party primarily based in the Indian state of Kerala. It is recognised as a State Party in Kerala by the Election Commission of India.
The first ...
(IUML)
*
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)
*
Indian Socialist Party
The Indian Socialist Party was a political party in the Indian state of Kerala. ISP was founded in May 1969, by the majority of the erstwhile Kerala Samyukta Socialist Party (a splinter group of the Samyukta Socialist Party). The two KSSP ministe ...
(ISP)
constituted a Mini Front which formed government with the external support from
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
.
C. Achutha Menon
Chelat Achutha Menon (13 January 1913 – 16 August 1991) was the Chief Minister of Kerala state for two terms. The first term was from 1 November 1969 to 1 August 1970 and the second 4 October 1970 to 25 March 1977. He was instrumental in ...
(CPI) was sworn in as Chief Minister on 1 November 1969. But the split in Indian Socialist Party and group politics within the Congress party led to the fall of Achutha Menon government on 1 August 1970.
The Keala state came under President's rule from 4 August 1970 to 3 October 1970.
Formation of United Front (1970)
The 1970 Kerala Legislative Assembly election saw the political parties contesting mainly as three alliances.
* United Front
**
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
(INC)
**
Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India (CPI) is the oldest Marxist–Leninist communist party in India and one of the nine national parties in the country. The CPI was founded in modern-day Kanpur (formerly known as Cawnpore) on 26 December 1925.
H ...
(CPI)
**
Indian Union Muslim League
The Indian Union Muslim League (abbreviated as the I. U. M. L. or the League) is an Indian political party primarily based in the Indian state of Kerala. It is recognised as a State Party in Kerala by the Election Commission of India.
The first ...
(IUML)
**
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)
**
Praja Socialist Party
The Praja Socialist Party, abbreviated as PSP, was an Indian political party. It was founded when the Socialist Party, led by Jayaprakash Narayan, Rambriksh Benipuri, Acharya Narendra Deva and Basawon Singh (Sinha), merged with the Kisan Mazdoo ...
(PSP)
* Front led by CPI(M)
**
Communist Party of India Marxist (CPIM)
**
Samyukta Socialist Party
Samyukta Socialist Party (; SSP), was a political party in India from 1964 to 1972. SSP was formed through a split in the Praja Socialist Party (PSP) in 1964. In 1972, SSP was reunited with PSP, forming the Socialist Party.
The General Secret ...
(SSP)
**
Indian Socialist Party
The Indian Socialist Party was a political party in the Indian state of Kerala. ISP was founded in May 1969, by the majority of the erstwhile Kerala Samyukta Socialist Party (a splinter group of the Samyukta Socialist Party). The two KSSP ministe ...
(ISP)
**
Karshaka Thozhilali Party (KTP)
**
Kerala Socialist Party
Kerala Socialist Party (KSP) is a political party in India founded under the leadership of Mathai Manjooran on 21 September 1947 at Kozhikode. It began as a small party, but its front-line leaders compelled the party deep into the public imagina ...
(KSP)
* Democratic Front
**
Kerala Congress
Kerala Congress is an Indian political party founded at Kottayam, Kerala in October, 1964, by a block of former Indian National Congress leaders led by K. M. George. The party is primarily active in central Kerala.
The establishment of Kerala ...
**
Indian National Congress (Organisation)
The Indian National Congress (Organisation) also known as Congress (O) or Syndicate/Old Congress was a political party in India formed when the Congress party split following the expulsion of Indira Gandhi.
On 12 November 1969, the Prime Minist ...
Election results
In the 1970 Kerala Legislative Assembly election,
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
,
Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India (CPI) is the oldest Marxist–Leninist communist party in India and one of the nine national parties in the country. The CPI was founded in modern-day Kanpur (formerly known as Cawnpore) on 26 December 1925.
H ...
,
Indian Union Muslim League
The Indian Union Muslim League (abbreviated as the I. U. M. L. or the League) is an Indian political party primarily based in the Indian state of Kerala. It is recognised as a State Party in Kerala by the Election Commission of India.
The first ...
,
Revolutionary Socialist Party and
Kerala Congress
Kerala Congress is an Indian political party founded at Kottayam, Kerala in October, 1964, by a block of former Indian National Congress leaders led by K. M. George. The party is primarily active in central Kerala.
The establishment of Kerala ...
contested under the United Front which was supported by NDP and
Praja Socialist Party
The Praja Socialist Party, abbreviated as PSP, was an Indian political party. It was founded when the Socialist Party, led by Jayaprakash Narayan, Rambriksh Benipuri, Acharya Narendra Deva and Basawon Singh (Sinha), merged with the Kisan Mazdoo ...
. The alliance won 111 seats in a house of 140 (Congress–38, CPI–23, Kerala Congress–20, IUML–13, RSP–9, NDP–5, PSP–3)
Marxist-led Opposition won just 29 seats (
Communist Party of India Marxist –17,
Janata Party
The Janata Party ( JP, lit. ''People's Party'') was a political party that was founded as an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the Emergency that was imposed between 1975 and 1977 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of the Indian Nati ...
–6, Rebel Kerala Congress–2, Rebel Muslim League–3, and independent–1).
Government formation
In the 1970
Legislative Assembly election, the United Front won majority and formed government on 4 October 1970 with
C. Achutha Menon
Chelat Achutha Menon (13 January 1913 – 16 August 1991) was the Chief Minister of Kerala state for two terms. The first term was from 1 November 1969 to 1 August 1970 and the second 4 October 1970 to 25 March 1977. He was instrumental in ...
as the Chief Minister. Although
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
was part of United Front it did not join the ministry at first, but extended support from outside.
The Cabinet was expanded on two occasions, when the
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
joined in September 1971, and to induct the nominees of the Kerala Congress in December 1975.
Emergency (1975–1977)
The formal term of the government expired on 21 October 1975 but was extended on three occasions over six month periods during the
Emergency
An emergency is an urgent, unexpected, and usually dangerous situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment and requires immediate action. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening ...
.
C. Achutha Menon
Chelat Achutha Menon (13 January 1913 – 16 August 1991) was the Chief Minister of Kerala state for two terms. The first term was from 1 November 1969 to 1 August 1970 and the second 4 October 1970 to 25 March 1977. He was instrumental in ...
continued as Chief Minister until 25 March 1977, becoming the first
Chief Minister of Kerala
The chief minister of Kerala is the chief executive of the Indian state of Kerala. In accordance with the Constitution of India, the governor is a state's ''de jure'' head, but ''de facto'' executive authority rests with the chief minister. Fol ...
to complete normal constitutional term.
["History of Kerala Legislature"]
Kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
After the Emergency (1977–1979)
*
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
leader
K. Karunakaran
Kannoth Karunakaran (5 July 1918 – 23 December 2010) was an Indian politician and member of the Indian National Congress (INC). He served as the Chief Minister of Kerala four times during the late 1970s through the mid 1990s. He is the ...
sworn in as Chief Minister on 25 March 1977. But he had to resign within a month.
*
A. K. Antony replaced him as Chief Minister but Antony himself resigned on 27 October 1978.
*
P. K. Vasudevan Nair
Padayatt Kesavapillai Vasudevan Nair (2 March 1926 – 12 July 2005), popularly known as PKV, was the 9th Chief Minister of Kerala and a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI). He was elected to the Lok Sabha four times, in 1957, ...
(CPI) became the Chief Minister on 29 October 1978 but resigned on 7 October 1979
*
C.H. Mohammed Koya (IUML) assumed office on 12 October 1979 but could not remain in office for long.
[Arul B. Louis, Gita Aravamudan (30 November 1979)]
"Mohammed Koya: Balancing the odds"
''India Today''. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
Aftermath
Following the resignation
Koya
Koya may refer to:
Places Iraq
* Koya; ( ar, كيويسنجق), a town in Iraqi Kurdistan
** Koya University, a university in that town
Japan
* Mount Kōya, a mountain in Japan
** Kōya, Wakayama, a town on the top of Mount Kōya
* Kōya Stati ...
, the Kerala Governor dissolved the Legislative Assembly on 30 November 1979 and Kerala was brought under President's rule.
The 1980 election witnessed further consolidation of political parties under new titles-
Left Democratic Front
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the state of Kerala, India. It is the current ruling political alliance of Kerala, since 2016. It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the oth ...
and
United Democratic Front.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:United Front (1970-1979, Kerala)
Political parties in Kerala
Defunct political party alliances in India
Defunct political parties in Kerala
Political parties established in 1970
1970 establishments in Kerala