The system of separate electorates and the system of reserved constituencies differ fundamentally in terms of who can vote. Under separate electorates, introduced by the British government, only voters belonging to a particular community were eligible to elect a representative from that community. In contrast, under reserved constituencies, all voters in a constituency are eligible to vote, but the candidates must belong only to the particular community or social section for which the seat is reserved.

The Constitution makers rejected separate electorates because many members in the Constituent Assembly expressed fear that this system would not suit India's purposes. They believed that separate electorates would harm national unity and integration.

As Tajamul Husain stated in the Constituent Assembly, "Separate electorates have been a curse to India, have done incalculable harm to this country… Separate electorates have barred our progress… We (Muslims) want to merge in the nation."

The Constitution makers were aware that the FPTP electoral system could mean that dominant social groups and castes could win everywhere while oppressed social groups may continue to remain unrepresented. Therefore, they adopted reserved constituencies as a way to ensure fair and just representation to the oppressed social groups without dividing the electorate on communal lines.