1967 Bihar Legislative Assembly election

Elections to the Bihar Legislative Assembly were held in February 1967, to elect members of the 318 constituencies in Bihar, India. The Indian National Congress won the most seats as well as the popular vote, but Mahamaya Prasad Sinha of the Jana Kranti Dal was appointed as the Chief Minister of Bihar.^[1] No single party had won a majority of seats,^[2]

1967 Bihar Legislative Assembly election

← 1962 21 February 1967 1969 →
All 318 seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly 160 seats needed for a majority
Registered	27,743,190
Turnout	51.51%
Majority party Minority party Third party   Party INC SSP ABJS Seats before 185 New 3 Seats won 128 68 26 Seat change 57 New 23 Popular vote 33.09% 17.62% 10.42%
CM before election K. B. Sahay INC Elected CM Mahamaya Prasad Sinha Jana Kranti Dal

Government formation

1st Government

Parties like Samyukt Socialist Party, Jan Sangh, CPI, Jan Kranti Dal and Praja Socialist together formed the government. Although the second largest party after Congress was the Samyukt Socialist Party and its leader Karpoori Thakur had a stake in the post of Chief Minister, but other parties were not ready.In such a situation, all the parties agreed on the name of Mahamaya Prasad Sinha of Jan Kranti Dal(of Kamakhya Narain Singh), who became the Chief Minister of Bihar in March 1967, while Karpoori Thakur became the Deputy Chief Minister. However, the government couldn't last even for a year.^[3]

2nd Government

Opposition to the caste composition of the ministry led to some members of the samyukt socialist party, provoked by Health minister BP Mandal(who was forced to resign by Ram Manohar Lohia), join hands with the congress to form new government headed by first backward chief minister BP Mandal, which lasted just 50 days.^[4]

3rd Government

However, there was a tussle going on within the Congress on the issue of supporting the Mandal government. Angered by this decision of the party, 17 MLAs rebelled under the leadership of former Chief Minister Binodanand Jha, leader of the anti-KB Sahay group. Formed a separate faction in the name of Loktrantik Congress and withdrew support from the Mandal government. Only one month old BP Mandal government had to resign and in the new manipulation, MLA of this Loktrantik Congress camp, Bhola Paswan Shastri became first Dalit chief minister with the help of opposition MLAs. Even his ministry lasted for just 4 months^[4]

The weakening of previously dominant congress party, rising aspirations of backward classes(forward-backward tussle) and individual greed of leaders was the main reasons for these short lived govertments.^[5]

Result

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Indian National Congress	4,479,460	33.09	128	57
	Samyukta Socialist Party	2,385,961	17.62	68	New
	Bharatiya Jana Sangh	1,410,722	10.42	26	23
	Praja Socialist Party	942,889	6.96	18	11
	Communist Party of India	935,977	6.91	24	12
	Jan Kranti Dal	451,412	3.33	13	New
	Swatantra Party	315,184	2.33	3	47
	Communist Party of India (Marxist)	173,656	1.28	4	New
	Republican Party of India	23,893	0.18	1	New
	Independents	2,419,469	17.87	33	21
Total		13,538,623	100.00	318	0
Valid votes		13,538,623	73.37
Invalid/blank votes		4,914,436	26.63
Total votes		18,453,059	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		27,743,190	66.51
Source: ECI[6]

Elected members

Constituency	Reserved for (SC/ST/None)	Member	Party
Dhanaha	None	Yogendra Shrivastava		Praja Socialist Party
Bagaha	SC	Narsingh Baitha		Indian National Congress
Ram Nagar	None	Narayan Vikram Shah		Indian National Congress
Shikarpur	SC	B.ram		Praja Socialist Party
Sikta	None	U. S. Shukla		Communist Party of India
Lauriya	None	Shatru Mardan Sahi		Independent
Chanapatia	None	Pramod Kumar Mishra		Indian National Congress
Bettiah	None	H.p. Shahi		Independent
Nautan	None	Kedar Pandey		Indian National Congress
Raxaul	None	Vidhyachal Sinha		Samyukta Socialist Party
Sugauli	None	M. L. Modi		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Motihari	None	Chandrika Prasad Yadav		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Adapur	None	Ahmed Karim		Independent
Ghorasahan	None	Ram Ayodhya Prasad		Praja Socialist Party
Dhaka	None	S.n. Sharma		Praja Socialist Party
Patahi	None	Ram Nandan Singh		Praja Socialist Party
Madhuban	None	Mahendra Bharti		Communist Party of India
Kesaria	None	Pitambar Singh		Communist Party of India
Pipra	SC	Bigu Ram		Indian National Congress
Harsidhi	None	S.m. Abdulla		Communist Party of India
Gobindganj	None	Dhrup Narain Mani Tripathi		Indian National Congress
Gopalganj	None	Hari Shankar Singh		Samyukta Socialist Party
Kuchaikot	None	Nagina Rai		Independent
Katea	SC	Badari Mahara		Indian National Congress
Bhore	None	Raj Mangal Mishra		Indian National Congress
Mirganj	None	Siya Bihari Sharan		Samyukta Socialist Party
Siwan	None	Raja Ram Chaudhry		Indian National Congress
Ziradei	None	Zawar Hussain		Indian National Congress
Mairwa	SC	Giridhari Ram		Communist Party of India
Darauli	None	Krishna Pratap Singh		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Raghunathpur	None	Ramdev Sinha		Samyukta Socialist Party
Maharajganj	None	Kaushalendra Pratap Shahi		Praja Socialist Party
Barharia	None	Abdul Jalil		Communist Party of India
Gorlakothi	None	Krishna Kant Singh		Indian National Congress
Baikunthpur	None	Sabhapati Singh		Samyukta Socialist Party
Barauli	None	B. Rai		Independent
Manjhi	None	Ram Bahadur Singh		Samyukta Socialist Party
Baniapur	None	Uma Pandey		Indian National Congress
Masrakh	None	Prabhu Nath Singh		Indian National Congress
Taraiya	None	Dharam Nath Singh		Samyukta Socialist Party
Marhaura	None	Devi Laljee		Samyukta Socialist Party
Jalalpur	None	Jagdamba Prasad		Independent
Chapra	None	Uday Pratap N Singh		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Garkha	SC	Vishwanath Bhagat		Independent
Parsa	None	Daroga Prasad Rai		Indian National Congress
Sonepur	None	Ram Jaipal Singh Yadav		Indian National Congress
Hajipur	None	Kishori Prasanna Sinha		Communist Party of India
Raghopur	None	Hariwansh Narayan Singh		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Mahnar	None	Muneshwar Prasad Singh		Samyukta Socialist Party
Jandaha	None	Bhuvneshwar Chaudhary		Indian National Congress
Patepur	SC	Paltan Ram		Samyukta Socialist Party
Goraul	None	S. Patel		Indian National Congress
Vaishali	None	Laliteshwar Prasad Shahi		Indian National Congress
Lalganj	None	Dipnarain Singh		Indian National Congress
Paru	None	S.s. Singh		Samyukta Socialist Party
Sahebganj	None	Nawal Kishore Sinha		Indian National Congress
Baruraj	None	Sukhdeo Giri		Independent
Kanti	None	M.p. Sinha		Indian National Congress
Kurhani	None	Krishna Nandan Sahay		Indian National Congress
Sakra	SC	Newa Lal Mahto		Samyukta Socialist Party
Muzaffarpur	None	M.l. Gupta		Indian National Congress
Bochaha	SC	Sitaram Rajak		Samyukta Socialist Party
Gaighatti	None	Nitishwar Prasad Sinha		Indian National Congress
Aurai	None	C.m.p. Singh		Indian National Congress
Minapur	None	Mahanth Ramkishore Das		Samyukta Socialist Party
Runisaidpur	None	Viveka Nand Giri		Indian National Congress
Sitamarhi	None	Kishori Lal Sah		Indian National Congress
Bathnaha	None	Mohan Lal Sharma		Samyukta Socialist Party
Belsand	None	Chandreshwar Prasad Singh		Indian National Congress
Shedhar	None	Thakur Girija Nandan Singh		Independent
Majorganj	SC	R. Ram		Samyukta Socialist Party
Sonbarsa	None	R.n. Rai		Independent
Sursand	None	P. Devi		Indian National Congress
Pupri	None	N.h. Khan		Indian National Congress
Benipatt	None	T.n. Jha		Communist Party of India
Bisfi	None	R.k. Purbey		Communist Party of India
Harlakhi	None	Baidya Nath Yadav		Communist Party of India
Khajauli	None	N.s. Azad		Praja Socialist Party
Jainagar	SC	R. Paswan		Indian National Congress
Madhubani	None	S. Ansari		Indian National Congress
Jhanjharpur	None	H. Mishra		Indian National Congress
Rajnagar	SC	R. Mahto		Indian National Congress
Phulparas	None	D.l. Mandal		Sanghata Socialist Party
Laukaha	None	S. Sahu		Indian National Congress
Madhepur	None	B.p. Mahto		Sanghata Socialist Party
Biraul	None	M. Prasad		Sanghata Socialist Party
Baheri	None	B.n. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Manigachi	None	N. Jha		Indian National Congress
Benipur	None	B.n. Jha		Indian National Congress
Darbhanga	None	R.p. Sinha		Indian National Congress
Keotiranway	None	H.n. Yadav		Sanghata Socialist Party
Jale	None	K. Hussain		Communist Party of India
Hayaghat	SC	B. Ram		Indian National Congress
Kalyanpur	None	B.n. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Warisnagar	SC	R. Hazari		Sanghata Socialist Party
Samastipur	None	R.n. Sharma		Sanghata Socialist Party
Tajpur	None	Karpoori Thakur		Sanghata Socialist Party
Mohiuddin Nagar	None	P.l. Roy		Sanghata Socialist Party
Balsinghsarai	None	Y.k. Chaudhary		Swatantra Party
Sarairanjan	None	R. Mishra		Sanghata Socialist Party
Bibhutpur	None	P.s. Madan		Communist Party of India
Rosera	None	R.k. Jha		Sanghata Socialist Party
Hasanpur	None	G.p. Himanshu		Sanghata Socialist Party
Singhia	SC	S. Kumari		Indian National Congress
Raghopur	None	A. Goit		Sanghata Socialist Party
Kishanpur	None	B.p. Yadav		Sanghata Socialist Party
Supaul	None	U. Singh		Indian National Congress
Triveniganj	None	Anup Lal Yadav		Sanghata Socialist Party
Chhattapur	SC	K.l. Sardar		Sanghata Socialist Party
Kumarkhand	None	J. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Simri Bakhitiarpur	None	C.m. Salahuddin		Indian National Congress
Mahishi	None	P. Kumar		Sanghata Socialist Party
Saharsa	None	R. Jha		Indian National Congress
Sonbarsa	SC	Y. Devi		Indian National Congress
Madhepura	None	M.p. Yadav		Sanghata Socialist Party
Murliganj	None	S.n. Jha		Praja Socialist Party
Alamnagar	None	V. Kavi		Indian National Congress
Rupauli	None	C.n. Sharma		Communist Party of India
Dhamdaha	None	L.n. Sudhansu		Indian National Congress
Banmankhi	SC	B. Saraf		Indian National Congress
Kasba	None	R. N. Mandal		Indian National Congress
Raniganj	SC	D.l. Baitha		Indian National Congress
Narpatganj	None	Satya Narayan Yadav		Indian National Congress
Forbesganj	None	S. Mishra		Indian National Congress
Araria	None	S.p. Gupta		Indian National Congress
Palasi	None	M.azimuddin		Independent
Bahadurganj	None	D.n. Jha		Praja Socialist Party
Thakurganj	None	M.h. Azad		Indian National Congress
Kishanganj	None	L.l. Kapoor		Praja Socialist Party
Jokihat	None	Nazamuddin		Praja Socialist Party
Amour	None	H. Rahman		Praja Socialist Party
Purnea	None	K.n. Sinha		Indian National Congress
Katihar	None	J. Adhikari		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Barsoi	None	S.l. Jain		Independent
Azamnagar	None	A. Zafar		Indian National Congress
Korha	SC	B.p. Shastri		Indian National Congress
Barari	None	B.p. Singh		Indian National Congress
Manihari	None	Yuvraj		Praja Socialist Party
Rajmahal	None	N. Dokanie		Swatantra Party
Borio	ST	J. Kisku		Swatantra Party
Barhait	None	M. Soren		Independent
Litipara	ST	B. Murmu		Independent
Pakur	None	B.n. Jha		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Maheshpur	ST	P. Hasdak		Independent
Shikaripara	ST	B. Hembrom		Indian National Congress
Nala	None	B. Khan		Communist Party of India
Jamtara	None	S. Besra		Communist Party of India
Sarath	None	N.k. Singh		Indian National Congress
Madhupur	None	A.k. Banerjee		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Deoghar	SC	B. Das		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Jarmundi	None	S. Raut		Independent
Dumka	ST	G. Marandi		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Jama	ST	M. Hasda		Independent
Poraiyahat	ST	M. Murmu		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Godda	None	D.n. Choudhary		Indian National Congress
Mahagama	None	R. Ram		Indian National Congress
Pirpainti	None	A. Prasad		Communist Party of India
Colgong	None	N.p. Singh		Communist Party of India
Nathnagar	None	K. Jha		Indian National Congress
Bhagalpur	None	B.k. Mitra		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Gopalpur	None	M. Singh		Communist Party of India
Bihpur	None	Gyaneshwar Prasad Yadav		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Sultanganj	None	B.p. Sharma		Praja Socialist Party
Amarpur	None	S.n. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Dhoraiya	SC	S. Mandal		Indian National Congress
Banka	None	B.l. Mandal		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Belhar	None	C.p. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Kotoria	None	K. Sitaram		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Chakai	None	S. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Jhajha	None	S. Jha		Sanghata Socialist Party
Jamui	None	T.p. Singh		Praja Socialist Party
Sikandra	SC	S. Vivekanand		Sanghata Socialist Party
Sheikhpura	SC	L. Mochi		Communist Party of India
Barbigha	None	S.s. Sinha		Indian National Congress
Barahiya	None	K. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Surajgarha	None	B.p. Mehta		Praja Socialist Party
Jamalpur	None	B. P. Yadav		Sanghata Socialist Party
Tarapur	None	B. N. Parsant		Sanghata Socialist Party
Kharagpur	None	S. J. B. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Monghyr	None	Hasim		Sanghata Socialist Party
Parbatta	None	S.p. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Choutham	None	J. Mandal		Sanghata Socialist Party
Alduli	SC	M. Sada		Indian National Congress
Khagaria	None	R. B. Azad		Sanghata Socialist Party
Ballia	None	A. Misra		Sanghata Socialist Party
Begusarai	None	B. Singh		Independent
Bakhri	SC	Y. K. Sharma		Communist Party of India
Bariarpur	None	R. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Barauni	None	C. Singh		Communist Party of India
Bachhwara	None	V. P. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Mokamah	None	B. Lal		Republican Party of India
Barh	None	T. P. Singh		Jan Kranti Dal
Bakhtiarpur	None	D. Singh		Indian National Congress
Fatwa	SC	R. C. Prasad		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Bihar	None	V. K. Yadav		Communist Party of India
Asthawan	None	B. P. Jawahar		Indian National Congress
Ekangar Sarai	None	L. S. Tyagi		Indian National Congress
Rajgir	SC	J. Prasad		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Islampur	None	S. S. Prasad		Indian National Congress
Chandi	None	R. P. Singh		Indian National Congress
Hilsa	None	A. K. Singh		Indian National Congress
Masaurhi	None	B. Sharma		Communist Party of India
Punpun	SC	M. Paswan		Jan Kranti Dal
Patna South	None	Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav		Indian National Congress
Patna East	None	R D. Mahto		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Patna West	None	M. P. Sinha		Jan Kranti Dal
Danapur	None	R. S. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Maner	None	R. N. Singh		Independent
Bikram	None	Mahabir Gop		Indian National Congress
Paliganj	None	C. P. Varma		Sanghata Socialist Party
Sandesh	None	R. S. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Arrah	None	S. Devi		Indian National Congress
Barhara	None	A. S. Singh		Indian National Congress
Shahpur	None	R. N. Tiwari		Sanghata Socialist Party
Brahampur	None	S. Sharma		Independent
Dumraon	None	H. P. Singh		Independent
Nawanagar	SC	L. B. Prasad		Communist Party of India
Buxar	None	P. Chatterjee		Sanghata Socialist Party
Ramgarh	None	S. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Mohania	SC	R. Ram		Indian National Congress
Chainpur	None	M. C. Singh		Indian National Congress
Bhabua	None	S. N. Pandey		Indian National Congress
Chenari	SC	C. Ram		Indian National Congress
Sasaram	None	B.b. Singh		Indian National Congress
Dehri	None	A. Q. Ansari		Indian National Congress
Karakat	None	T. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Nokha	None	G. Singh		Indian National Congress
Dinara	None	R. A. Singh		Sanghata Socialist Party
Bikramganj	None	K. Singh		Indian National Congress
Jagdishpur	None	S. P. Rai		Indian National Congress
Piro	None	R. M. Rai		Sanghata Socialist Party
Sahar	SC	B. Chamar		Indian National Congress
Arwal	None	S. Zohair		Communist Party of India
Kurtha	None	J. Prasad		Sanghata Socialist Party
Makhdumpur	SC	L. Ram		Sanghata Socialist Party
Jehanabad	None	S. F. Hussain		Indian National Congress
Ghosi	None	R. P. Sinha		Communist Party of India
Belaganj	None	S. N. Sinha		Sanghata Socialist Party
Goh	None	T. M. Singh		Indian National Congress
Daudnagar	None	R. N. Singh		Praja Socialist Party
Obra	None	R. K. Singh		Indian National Congress
Nabinagar	None	S. N. Singh		Indian National Congress
Aurangabad	None	S. Singh		Praja Socialist Party
Rafiganj	SC	D. Ram		Indian National Congress
Imamganj	SC	D. Ram		Indian National Congress
Sherghati	None	M. A. Khan		Jan Kranti Dal
Barachatti	SC	V. C. Bharti		Indian National Congress
Bodh Gaya	SC	R. Manjhi		Indian National Congress
Konch	None	U. N. Verma		Sanghata Socialist Party
Gaya	None	G. Mishra		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Gaya Muffasil	None	R. C. Yadav		Sanghata Socialist Party
Atri	None	K. Prasad		Independent
Hisua	None	S. S. Singh		Indian National Congress
Nawada	None	R. S. P. Yadav		Indian National Congress
Rajauli	SC	S. Devi		Indian National Congress
Warisaliganj	None	D. Prasad		Communist Party of India
Govindpur	None	A. Prasad		Indian National Congress
Kodarma	None	B. Modi		Sanghata Socialist Party
Dhanwar	None	P. Rai		Indian National Congress
Gawan	SC	G. Rabidas		Indian National Congress
Jamua	None	S. Prasad		Indian National Congress
Giridih	None	R. Ram		Indian National Congress
Dumri	None	S. Manjari		Independent
Bermo	None	B. Dubey		Indian National Congress
Bagodar	None	L. R. Lakshmi		Jan Kranti Dal
Barhi	None	I. J. N. Singh		Jan Kranti Dal
Hazaribagh	None	R. Prasad		Jan Kranti Dal
Chauparan	None	N. P. Singh		Independent
Chatra	None	K. P. Singh		Independent
Barkagaon	SC	M. Ram		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Ramgarh	None	T. P. Buxi		Jan Kranti Dal
Mandu	None	B. N. Singh		Jan Kranti Dal
Jaridih	None	S. Manjari		Independent
Chandankiyari	SC	S. B. Bouri		Independent
Topchanchi	None	P. N. Singh		Independent
Baghmara	None	M. M. Singh		Jan Kranti Dal
Dhanbad	None	R. Singh		Indian National Congress
Tundi	None	G. Mishra		Jan Kranti Dal
Nirsa	None	R. N. Sharma		Indian National Congress
Sindri	None	A. K. Roy		Communist Party of India
Jharia	None	S. R. Prasad		Indian National Congress
Baharagora	None	S. R. Khan		Independent
Ghatsila	ST	D. Murmu		Indian National Congress
Patamda	None	G. Mahato		Indian National Congress
Jamshedpur East	None	M. J. Akhauri		Indian National Congress
Jamshedpur West	None	C. Vyas		Indian National Congress
Jugsalai	ST	M. R. Tudu		Indian National Congress
Saraikella	None	R.p. Sarangi		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Chaibasa	ST	B. Sumbrui		Independent
Majhgaon	ST	P. C. Birua		Independent
Manoharpur	ST	R. Nayak		Sanghata Socialist Party
Jagannathpur	ST	V. Pareya		Indian National Congress
Chakardharpur	ST	M. Majhi		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Ichagarh	None	P. K. A. Deo		Indian National Congress
Kharsawan	ST	D. Matisay		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Tamar	ST	B. R. Munda		Indian National Congress
Torpa	ST	S. Pahan		Indian National Congress
Khunti	ST	T. M. Munda		Indian National Congress
Silli	SC	B. Swansi		Jan Kranti Dal
Khijri	ST	R. L. Horo		Indian National Congress
Ranchi	None	N. G. Mitra		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Kanke	None	J. N. Choubey		Jan Kranti Dal
Kolebira	ST	N. E. Horo		Independent
Simdega	ST	P. Toppo		Independent
Chainpur	ST	S. Tigga		Indian National Congress
Gumla	ST	R. Oraon		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Sisai	ST	S. Bhagat		Indian National Congress
Bero	ST	K.c. Bhagat		Indian National Congress
Mandar	ST	S. Bhagat		Indian National Congress
Lohardaga	ST	B. Lakna		Indian National Congress
Latehar	ST	T. Singh		Indian National Congress
Panki	SC	R. Ram		Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Daltonganj	None	P. Chand		Sanghata Socialist Party
Garhwa	None	L. Prasad		Indian National Congress
Bhawanathpur	None	S. P. Deo		Indian National Congress
Leslieganj	None	J. Pathak		Indian National Congress
Bishrampur	SC	R. D. Ram		Indian National Congress
Hussainbad	None	B. N. Singh		Indian National Congress

See also

• List of constituencies of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
• 1967 elections in India