The Constituent Assembly – The Debates The elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July, 1946. Its first meeting took place on December 9, 1946. The long debate on the Objectives Resolution highlighted the fact that a large section of the Constituent Assembly felt the need for a centralized republic with a strong Centre. Nevertheless, it was willing to accept the scheme of a limited Centre and autonomous units with residuary powers, envisaged in the Objectives Resolution, in order to secure the co-operation of the Muslim League in the task of framing the Constitution for a united India. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was cheered by the House when he declared that so far as he was personally concerned, he would like to have a strong Centre as envisaged in Government of India Act of 1935. He recognized, however, that “these wishes have no bearing on the situation at all.” Federal Structure of the Constitution The Constitution seeks and defines India to be ‘Union of S...