State elections in India: data handbook on vidhan sabha elections 1952-85

Data Handbook on Lok Sabha Elections, published in 1984, represented the first step in systematising the data holdings of the Data Unit of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi. It was with some trepidation that we had undertaken this venture. However, our fears have proved to be unfounded. The reception that it has received from readers forcefully underlines the deep interest people have in the working of the electoral process in particular, and the functioning of democracy in India, in general. A second edition of Data Handbook on Lok Sabha Elections brought out in the space of two years bears testimony to this.

Emboldened by this heartening reception, we have now ventured on a similar exercise in respect of Assembly constituencies. But they pose a greater challenge as compared to Parliamentary constituencies. Not only are Assembly constituencies more numerous, their boundaries have over the years, registered frequent changes. Again, with the frequent reorganisation of districts in many states, the identity and character of a large number of Assembly constituencies have also changed in the process.