The massive majority with which the newly formed Janata Party was swept into power in 1977 appeared to be so stable that no one could even dream of another general election to the Lok Sabha within a period of less than three years. But that was what happened in January 1980 when the country went to elect a new Lok Sabha.

The Janata Party government headed by Morarji Desai had to submit its resignation in July 1979 as a result of its losing majority support in the Lok Sabha which was the consequence of conflict among different groups within the party. No alternative government backed by majority support was possible although Charan Singh was given the opportunity by the President to form a new government. Charan Singh failed to get the confidence of the House and thereupon on August 22, 1979, the Lok Sabha was dissolved and fresh elections were ordered.

It was a Herculean task for the Election Commission to hold a nationwide election at short notice. Yet it was able to accomplish it in the same manner as it did in the past. The total electorate numbered over 361 million. Of these, nearly 201.27 million exercised their franchise which works out to 56.8 per cent. This compares well with 60.54 per cent in 1977 and 55.29 per cent in 1971.

If the Lok Sabha election of 1977 was characterised as a “silent revolution” sweeping off the Congress Party from power, the 1980 election was described as a “bloodless coup” facilitating a peaceful change of government, unprecedented perhaps in any of the democracies in developing countries. The Congress (I) headed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi was swept back to power after a relatively short period of less than three years.

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Out of over 200 million votes cast, the Congress (I) secured over 83 million which works out to 42.56 per cent. The Janata Party came next with 37.2 million votes or about 19 per cent. Among the other leading parties the following came next in order:

Lok Dal, 9.45 per cent; Communist Party of India (Marxist), 6.05; Congress (U), 5.3 per cent; and Communist Party of India, 2.61. Independents secured 6.55 per cent.

In terms of seats the position was as follows: Congress (I), 351; Lok Dal, 41; CPI(M), 35; Janata, 31; DMK, 16; Congress(U). 13; CPI, 11; AIADMK, 2; other parties, 16 and Independents, 8.