1989 Indian General Election

End of single-party rule

22 and 26 November 1989 · Mandal, Mandir and the coalition era · 529 seats, 265 for a majority

General elections were held in India on 22 and 26 November 1989 to elect the members of the ninth Lok Sabha. The incumbent Indian National Congress (Indira) government under the premiership of Rajiv Gandhi lost its mandate, even though it was still the largest single party in the Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister before

Rajiv Gandhi

INC(I)

Prime Minister after

V. P. Singh

Largest force

Indian National Congress (Indira)

197 of 529 seats

Turnout

62.0%

The result

Sort by

Indian National Congress (Indira)

Rajiv Gandhi · 39.5% of votes

197

seats

Janata Dal

V. P. Singh · 17.8% of votes

143

seats

Bharatiya Janata Party

Lal Krishna Advani · 11.4% of votes

seats

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

E. M. S. Namboodiripad · 6.5% of votes

seats

Independents

5.3% of votes

seats

Communist Party of India

2.6% of votes

seats

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

1.5% of votes

seats

Shiromani Akali Dal (Simranjit Singh Mann)

0.8% of votes

seats


Indian National Congress (Indira)	Rajiv Gandhi	197	—	11,88,94,702	39.5%	-7.3
Janata Dal	V. P. Singh	143	—	5,35,18,521	17.8%	+4.3
Bharatiya Janata Party	Lal Krishna Advani	85	—	3,41,71,477	11.4%	+3.6
Communist Party of India (Marxist)	E. M. S. Namboodiripad	33	—	1,96,91,309	6.5%	+0.7
Independents	—	12	—	1,57,93,781	5.3%	—
Communist Party of India	—	12	—	77,34,697	2.6%	—
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	—	11	—	45,18,649	1.5%	—
Shiromani Akali Dal (Simranjit Singh Mann)	—	6	—	23,18,872	0.8%	—

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