Thread by @bhAratenduH

Constituent Assembly Trivia

The first chairman, elected unanimously, was Sachchidananda Sinha, in capacity of a temporary chairman.

Basis of his election was his age! Well known Jurist and Barrister from Bihar, he was the oldest member of the assembly.

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Sinha appointed R Iengar (Madras) as the chairman’s secretary to help with the selection of the permanent chairman.

Rules and procedure for the permanent chairman of the Constituent Assembly were agreed upon unanimously by the Assembly members.

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Within the agreed date, a total of 4 nominations were received for the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

The first nomination was for Dr. Rajendra Prasad (member-Bihar), proposed by J B Kriplani (member-United Province) and Seconded by Vallabhbhai Patel (member- Gujarat)
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2. The second nomination was also for Dr. Rajendra Prasad (member-Bihar), proposed by H K Mehtab (member-Orissa) and seconded by N K Das (member- Bengal)

3. The third nomination was also for Dr. Rajendra Prasad (member-Bihar), proposed by T Prakasam Pantulu (member-Madras)

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4. The 4th written nomination was for Dr. Rajendra Prasad as well, moved by Dr. S Radhakrishnan.

Prasad was thus elected unopposed to become the chairman of the Constituent Assembly, on 11-Dec-1946.

He was conducted to chair by A K Azad and J B Kriplani

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The chairman asked Dr. S Radhakrishnan, to take the honor of being the first speaker of the Constituent Assembly.

And it was apt. Dr. Radhakrishnan, naturally the best orator that India has produced so far in the modern times, broke out extempore in a rousing speech quoting

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from Shastras including Mahabharata on how the moment had arrived to India after a very long time.

Two of those who proposed Prasad’s nomination went on to become chief ministers:

Prakasam Pantulu, the first CM of AP
Harekrishna Mehtab as the first CM of Orissa

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