1956 Burmese general election

General elections were held in Burma to vote for 202 out of 250 seats to the Burmese Chamber of Deputies; the remaining 48 members (all from the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, AFPFL)) were elected unopposed as no opposition candidates stood against them.[1]

1956 Burmese general election

27 April 1956
202 (of the 250) seats in the Chamber of Deputies 126 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	47.8%
First party Second party   Leader U Nu Party AFPFL National United Front Seats won 148 48 Seat change 51 29 Popular vote 1,844,614 1,170,073 Percentage 47.7 30.4
Prime Minister before election U Nu AFPFL Prime Minister-elect Ba Swe AFPFL

The AFPFL, a former wartime resistance organisation, won the elections with a reduced majority.[2] After the election, U Nu, leader of the AFPFL, temporarily retired to reform the party and its policies.[3]

The second part of the election to elect members to the Chamber of Nationalities took place on 22 May after the election commission stated that "rebel intimidation and the lack of security prevented the people from exercising freedom of choice".[1] Voter turnout was 47.8%.[4]

Campaign

The AFPFL, National United Front (NUF) and smaller parties participated in the election. The NUF was successful in gaining media attention and organising trade union and peasant organisations.[5] However, the AFPFL was concerned at alleged funding by foreign embassies of the NUF.[1] A number of smaller parties represented different ethnic groups and were more local than national.[1] Meanwhile, U Nu of the AFPFL advocated his long held policy of neutrality.[6]

Conduct

After identifying themselves and voting, voters would dip their forefinger in green indelible ink. Opposition parties complained of minor irregularities regarding election lists.[1] Due to the security situation, the army was told to ensure free and fair elections but not to intimidate voters.[1] Students in the capital Rangoon had threatened to cause disorder after one of their leaders was killed by police, however this did not materialise.[7]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League	1,844,614	47.7	148	–51
National United Front	1,170,073	30.4	48	+29
United Hill People's Congress	853,555	21.9	14	–
Arakanese National Unity Organisation			6	New
All-Shan State Organisation			4	New
People's Educational and Cultural Development Organisation			4	New
Kachin National Congress			2	–5
Shan State Peasants' Organisation			2	New
Burma Nationalist Party			1	New
United National Pa-O Organisation			1	–2
Burma Democratic Party			0	–
Independents			13	–2
Vacant	–	–	7	–
Total	3,868,242	100	250	0
Registered voters/turnout	8,570,308	47.8	–	–
Source: Politics, Parties and National Elections in Burma, Nohlen et al.

References

1. Silverstein, Josef (1956). "Politics, Parties and National Elections in Burma". Far Eastern Survey. Institute of Pacific Relations. 25 (12): 177–184. doi:10.1525/as.1956.25.12.01p1086b. JSTOR 3024383.
2. Bigelow, Lee S (1960). "The 1960 Elections in Burma". Far Eastern Survey. Institute of Pacific Relations. 29 (5): 70–74. doi:10.1525/as.1960.29.5.01p13582. JSTOR 3024046.
3. Tarling, Nicholas (2000). The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia: From World War II to the Present, Volume 2, Part 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-521-66372-4.
4. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I, p603 ISBN 0-19-924958-X
5. Alagappa, Muthiah (2001). Coercion and governance: the declining political role of the military in Asia. Stanford University Press. p. 415. ISBN 978-0-8047-4227-6.
6. "Election in Burma". The New York Times. 28 April 1956.
7. Associated Press (30 April 1956). "U Nu wins Burma vote". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.