The Coorg Legislative Assembly was a legislative body which introduced laws for Coorg State from 1950 to 1956. It had its origins in the Coorg Legislative Council established on 26 January 1924 as a representative body of the Chief Commissioner's province of Coorg. When the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, the name of the body was officially changed to Coorg Legislative Assembly. The first and only general election to the assembly took place in 1952. It was eventually dissolved in 1956 when Coorg State was merged with the neighbouring Mysore State.
History The Coorg Legislative Council was formed on 28 January 1924 as a representative body for the inhabitants of Coorg Province. It initially consisted of twenty members, fifteen of whom were elected and five nominated. The franchise was enlarged by the Government of India Act 1935 and the Indian Independence Act, 1947. In 1947, the number of members was reduced by two when the European constituency was abolished.
The Constitution of India replaced the legislative council with a legislative assembly consisting of 24 members from 18 constituencies, of which six were two-member constituencies and twelve were single-member constituencies. Coming into force on 26 January 1950, one election was held to the assembly, in 1952.
Members of the Coorg Legislative Assembly, 1952 Candidates of only two political parties Indian National Congress (INC) and Communist Party of India (CPI) contested the elections. Thakkadi Party candidates contested as Independents such as the independence activist Pandyanda Belliappa (elected from Ammathi Nad Constituency).
No. Constituency MLAParty1 Sanivarasanthe P. K. Chennayya K. Mallappa 2 Somwarpet North C. K. Kalappa 3 Somwarpet South H. T. Muthanna 4 Fraserpet G. Lingarajayya 5 Sunticoppa Gundugutti Manjanathaya P. Lakha 6 Mercara Town B. S. Kushalappa 7 Murnad C. A. Mandanna 8 Mercara Nad P. D. Subbaiah 9 Srimangala Nad K. P. Karumbayya G. Subbaiah 10 Hudikeri K. K. Ganapathy 11 Berriath Nad C. M. Poonacha 12 Ponnampet Nad Yeravara Belli P. Nanamaya 13 Virajpet Town N. G. Ahamed 14 Virajpet Nad Harijan Nanja P. C. Uthayya 15 Ammathi Nad Pandyanda Belliappa 16 Siddapur Bettakurubara Kala Muruvanda Machaiah 17 Napoklu Nad A. C. Thimmaiah 18 Bhagamandala Nad Konana Devaiah
References
Further reading Bopanna, P. T. The Rise and Fall of the Coorg State, 2009 Muthanna, I. M. Coorg Memoirs, 1971