Parliamentary Election of 1923 in Isfahan Constituency

This paper discloses the role of the influential political groups in the election campaign. It also provides a statistical analysis of the votes.

Archival records and library materials were consulted for gathering data. Findings and

The competition was very close in Isfahan.  The candidacy of Reza Khan, then Reza Shah Pahlavi (1925-1941) in several electorates including Isfahan was more to manifest his power than to win a seat. That led to political tension between his local supporters and the agents of the so-called South Division military forces on one hand,  and the circles of Isfahan religious leaders - the Ulamaa- on the other hand. Vote counts revealed that urban areas voted in favor of the Ulama, headed by hugely influential Aqa Nourollah Najafi. Rural voters were cast for candidates favored by landlords. Although the coalition of the Ulama was defeated, our analysis of numbers shows that they received the support of urban voters.