being in 1923 and 1936. Birth of Dravidar Kazhagam The Justice party which had been the main political alternative to the Congress in the Presidency went into political wilderness following its defeat in the 1937 elections. During the Anti-Hindi agitations of 1937-40, it allied itself closely with Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and his Self-Respect Movement. Periyar eventually took over the Justice party's leadership on 29 December 1938. On 27 August 1944, it was renamed as Dravidar Kazhagam (DK). Under Periyar, the secessionist demand for Dravida Nadu became its main political plank. The DK boycotted the 1946 elections. Constituencies The Government of India Act of 1935 established a bicameral legislature in the Madras province. The legislature consisted of the governor and two legislative bodies - a legislative assembly and a legislative council. The legislative council consisted of a minimum of 54 and a maximum of 56 members. It was a permanent body not subject to dissolution by the governor, and one-third of its members retired every three years. 46 of its members were elected directly by the electorate, while the governor could nominate 8 to 10 members. The breakdown of seats in the council was as follows: The Act provided for a limited adult franchise based on property qualifications. Seven million people, roughly 15% of the Madras people holding land or paying urban taxes were qualified to be the electorate. Results Party wise breakdown of seats after the 1946 election. (Total Number of Seats : 56; Elections Held for : 46; Nominated : 10): See also 1946 Madras Presidency legislative assembly election References Elections in Madras Presidency 1946 elections in India Madras State Legislative Council elections in India