Indira Gandhi returned to power with a huge majority

Jaipur: In the general elections for the 7th Lok Sabha held from January 3 to 6, 1980, Indira Gandhi returned to power with a bang as she regained the public support which she had lost due to the Emergency three years ago. After another split in the party, Indira contested this election with Congress-I and its new symbol ‘Hath’ (Hand). Congress-I won 353 out of 529 seats. The vote share of Indira’s party was 42.69 percent. After the separation of some parties, the remaining Janata Party was reduced to just 31 seats. Chaudhary Charan Singh, who resigned as PM due to Congress’ withdrawal of support, could win only 41 seats through his Janta Party (Secular). CPI won 11, CPM 36 and independents and others won 39 seats.

After a landslide victory, Indira remained PM from January 14, 1980 to October 31, 1984 when she was shot dead by her bodyguards. After Indira, her son Rajiv Gandhi became the PM. Thus, the tenure of 7th Lok Sabha witnessed Indira’s return to power and her assassination. During this tenure Indira’s younger son and her right hand in politics, Sanjay Gandhi, died in an air crash due to which her elder son Rajiv entered politics and was made party’s General Secretary.

In the 1980’s election, Indira’s Congress (I) faced formidable opponents, including prominent leaders. Despite political challenges, internal Janata Party strife, and national instability, she secured her fourth term as Prime Minister.