1928 Burmese general election

1928 Burmese general election

November 1928
80 of the 103 seats in the Legislative Council
Turnout	18%

Legislative Council elections were held in Burma in November 1928. Despite expectations that pro-government candidates would win,[1] the result was a victory for the opposition, which won 45 of the 80 elected seats. However, the People's Party, the largest opposition party, was unable to form a government.[2] Instead, the pro-British Independent Party formed the government.[2]

Electoral system

The Legislative Council had 80 elected members, who were elected in 72 constituencies.[3] Around 55% of the adult population of the country was eligible to vote in the elections.[3] Women remained barred from standing as candidates, provoking a public protest by women at the Secretariat.[3]

Results

Opposition parties won 45 seats,[1] with the People's Party receiving the most votes.[2] Sixteen independents were elected, of whom nine were thought to be pro-opposition.[1] The pro-government parties and independents lost eight seats.[1]

Voter turnout was only 18%.[4]

Party		Seats	+/–
	People's Party	40	–5
	Independent Party	12	–8
	National Parliamentary Organisation	5	New
	Others	46	–
Total		103	0
Source: Haruhiro Fukui[5]

References

1. "Burmese Elections. Gains By The Opposition", The Times, 15 November 1928, p15, Issue 45051
2. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow The Irrawaddy, 3 November 2009
3. "Simon Commission In Burma. Women And Public Life" The Times, 1 February 1929, p11, Issue 45116
4. Robert H Taylor (2009) The State in Myanmar NUS Press, p185
5. Haruhiro Fukui (1985) Political parties of Asia and the Pacific, Greenwood Press, pp106–154