1980 Indian General Election

3 and 6 January 1980 · The Congress system tested · 529 seats, 265 for a majority

The Janata Party alliance came into power in the 1977 general elections amidst public anger with the Indian National Congress (R) and the Emergency. However, its position was weak; the loose coalition barely held on to a majority with only 295 seats in the Lok Sabha and never quite had a firm grip on power.

Prime Minister before

Charan Singh

JP(S)

Prime Minister after

Indira Gandhi

INC(I)

Largest force

Indian National Congress (Indira)

353 of 529 seats

Turnout

56.9%

The result

Sort by

Indian National Congress (Indira)

Indira Gandhi · 42.7% of votes · +199 seats

353

seats

Janata Party (Secular)

Charan Singh · 9.4% of votes

seats

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

E. M. S. Namboodiripad · 6.2% of votes · +15 seats

seats

Janata Party

Jagjivan Ram · 19.0% of votes · +264 seats

seats

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

2.1% of votes · +14 seats

seats

Indian National Congress (Urs)

A. K. Antony · 5.3% of votes

seats

Communist Party of India

2.5% of votes · +3 seats

seats

Independents

6.4% of votes · 0 seats

seats


Indian National Congress (Indira)	INC (I)+	Indira Gandhi	353	+199	8,44,55,313	42.7%	+8.2
Janata Party (Secular)	—	Charan Singh	41	—	1,85,74,696	9.4%	—
Communist Party of India (Marxist)	LF	E. M. S. Namboodiripad	37	+15	1,23,52,331	6.2%	+1.9
Janata Party	JP+	Jagjivan Ram	31	+264	3,75,30,228	19.0%	-22.4
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	—	—	16	+14	42,36,537	2.1%	—
Indian National Congress (Urs)	—	A. K. Antony	13	—	1,04,49,859	5.3%	—
Communist Party of India	—	—	10	+3	49,27,342	2.5%	—
Independents	—	—	9	0	1,27,17,510	6.4%	—

19 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.