1957 Madras State Legislative Assembly election

1957 Madras Legislative Assembly election

← 1952 31 March 1957 (1957-03-31) 1962 →
All 205 seats in the Legislature of Madras State 103 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader K. Kamaraj C. Rajagopalachari Party INC CRC Leader's seat Sattur MLC Seats won 151 13 Seat change 24 [1] New Party Popular vote 5,046,576 Contested as Independents Percentage 45.34% Contested as Independents Swing 10.46% Contested as Independents
Chief Minister before election K. Kamaraj INC Chief Minister K. Kamaraj INC

The second legislative assembly election to the Madras state (presently Tamil Nadu) was held on 31 March 1957. This was the first election held after the linguistic reorganisation of Madras State in 1956. Indian National Congress and its leader, K. Kamaraj won the election and defeated their rival, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. In 1954, due to the resignation of C. Rajagopalachari, for his controversial Kula Kalvi Thittam, the leadership of Congress was contested between K. Kamaraj, and C. Subramaniam (who got the support of M. Bhaktavatsalam). Eventually, K. Kamaraj, won the support of the party, was elected leader and chief minister of Madras State in 1954. In a surprise move, he appointed both M. Bhaktavatsalam and C. Subramaniam, to his cabinet, allowing great unity amongst the Congress that ruled the state of Madras, for the next decade. This election saw future DMK leaders M. Karunanidhi and K. Anbazhagan win their first MLA seats in the legislative assembly.^[2]