Tag: constitution and the first general election

In 1977 the Left Front won the state assembly elections, and the state was ruled by communists and other left groups till 2011. The erstwhile left front led West Bengal state government holds the Indian record for the longest period of governance.

1980s may be seen as the period of rising regional aspiration for autonomy, often outside the frame work of Indian Union. These movement frequently involved armed assertion by the people, their repression by the government and a collars of political and electoral process.

In 1977 election the Congress was reduced to just 153 seats, 92 of which were from four of the southern states. The Janata Party's 298 seats and its allies' 47 seats (of a total 542) gave it a massive majority. Morarji Desai became the first non- Congress Prime Minister of India.

The Emergency officially ended on 23 March 1977 with the fresh election called by Mrs. Gandhi.

In India, "the Emergency" refers to a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unilaterally had a state of emergency declared across the country. Officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352(1) of the Constitution because of the prevailing "internal disturbance".