Answer:
Ngo Dinh Diem's refusal to hold elections in South Vietnam in 1956, as mandated by the Geneva Accords of 1954, had several immediate consequences. One of the most significant was the deepening of political instability and the intensification of the armed conflict in Vietnam.Diem's decision to cancel the elections was widely perceived as a violation of the Geneva Accords and provoked anger and resentment among many Vietnamese who had hoped for a peaceful resolution of the country's political crisis. The Viet Minh and other communist groups, who had agreed to participate in the elections, denounced Diem's move and resumed their armed struggle against the South Vietnamese government.The cancellation of the elections also weakened Diem's legitimacy and credibility both at home and abroad. The United States, which had supported Diem's rise to power, expressed disappointment and concern about his decision and warned that it could have negative consequences for the future of South Vietnam.Moreover, the cancellation of the elections deepened the political divisions within South Vietnam and contributed to the rise of various opposition groups, including the National Liberation Front (NLF), which aimed to overthrow the Diem government and establish a united, independent, and socialist Vietnam.In summary, Diem's refusal to hold elections in 1956 had immediate and far-reaching consequences, including the intensification of the armed conflict, the weakening of his legitimacy and credibility, and the deepening of political divisions in Vietnam.: