General elections were held in Mauritius on 20 December 1976. They were the first general elections to be held since independence on 12 March 1968 and came nine years after the previous elections in 1967. Although elections had been scheduled for 1972, they were cancelled by the Labour Party–Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate–Muslim Committee of Action coalition government due to political unrest. The year prior to these elections was marked by the May 1975 Students protest riots.
The Mauritian Militant Movement won the most seats, but a coalition government was formed by the Independence Party (a coalition of the Labour Party, Muslim Committee of Action and Independent Forward Bloc) and the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate. Around 400 candidates representing thirty-one parties contested the election, but only three parties won seats.Mauritius Inter-Parliamentary UnionDieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p618 Voter turnout was 88%.Mauritius: 1976 Legislative Assembly election results EISA
Electoral system The voting system involved twenty constituencies on Mauritius, which each elected three members. Two seats were elected by residents of Rodrigues, and eight seats were filled by the nominated "best losers".Mauritius: Background to the 1967 Legislative Assembly election EISA
Results The best losers included Yousuf Mohamed and Harold Walter.
By constituency Constituency Elected MPs Party 1 Grand River North West–Port Louis West Jack Bizlall MMM Edouard Jérôme Boulle MMM Rajnee Dyalah MMM 2 Port Louis South–Port Louis Central Kader Bhayat MMM Noël Lee Cheong Lem MMM Rajiv Servansingh MMM Kamil Ramoly (best loser) PMSD 3 Port Louis Maritime–Port Louis East Bashir Khodabux MMM Cassam Uteem MMM Osman Gendoo MMM 4 Port Louis North–Montagne Longue Suresh Moorba MMM Shree Krisna Baligadoo MMM Sylvio Michel MMM 5 Pamplemousses–Triolet Seewoosagur Ramgoolam PTr Gyandeo Daby PTr Rabindrah Ghurburrun PTr 6 Grand Baie–Poudre D'Or Mooneeswar Hurry PTr Madan Dulloo MMM Dharmanand Goopt Fokeer MMM 7 Piton–Riviere du Rempart Rammesh Jeewoolall PTr Simadree Virahsawmy PTr Anerood Jugnauth MMM 8 Quartier Militaire–Moka Veerasamy Ringadoo PTr Mahess Teeluck PTr Krishnalall Coonjan MMM Yousuf Mohamed (best loser) PTr 9 Flacq–Bon Accueil Dwarkanath Gungah MMM Kanchandraseeh Bussawon PTr Vijay Jandoosing MMM 10 Montagne Blanche–Grand River South East Ramduthsingh Jaddoo MMM Satcam Boolell PTr Jagdishwar Goburdhun MMM Azize Asgarally (best loser) MMM 11 Vieux Grand Port–Rose Belle Radha Gungoosingh PTr Dayanundlall Basant Rai PTr Premdut Doongoor PTr 12 Mahebourg–Plaine Magnien Lutchmeeparsad Badry PTr Lutchmeeparsadsing Ramsahok MMM Harris Ramphul MMM Louis Amedee Darga (best loser) MMM Harold Walter (best loser) PTr 13 Riviere des Anguilles–Souillac Harish Boodhoo PTr Suresh Chandra Poonith MMM Swalay Kasenally MMM 14 Savanne–Black River Hurrydew Ramchurn PTr Kaleshwarao Saccaram PTr Jean-Claude Augustave MMM 15 La Caverne–Phoenix Kailash Purryag PTr Iswardeo Seetaram PTr Razack Peeroo PTr 16 Vacoas–Floreal Rohit Beedassy PTr Emmanuel Bussier PTr Angidi Chettiar PTr 17 Curepipe–Midlands Pierre Simonet PMSD Alain Maurice Espitalier-Noël PMSD Marie Ghislaine Henry PMSD Clarel Desiré Malherbe (best loser) PTr 18 Belle Rose–Quatre Bornes Paul Bérenger MMM James Burty David PTr Heeralall Bhugaloo PTr 19 Stanley–Rose Hill Jean–Claude de l'Estrac MMM Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra MMM Vijayanathan Venkatasamy MMM 20 Beau Bassin–Petite Riviere Robert Rey PMSD Eliézer Francois PMSD Vidula Nababasing MMM Finlay Salesse (best loser) MMM Jean Claude Bibi (best loser) MMM 21 Rodrigues Cyril Guimbeau PMSD Nicol François PMSDSource: Government of MauritiusBold indicates reelected incumbent MP.
References
External links 1976 Mauritian election day British Pathe