Seventh Punjab Legislative Assembly

The 1977 Punjab Legislative Assembly election was the seventh Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) election of the state. Shiromani Akali Dal and Janata Party coalition emerged as the victorious with 83 seats in the 117-seat legislature in the election. The Indian National Congress became the official opposition, holding 17 seats. On 17 February 1980, Assembly dissolved prematurely and president rule was imposed.[b]

Seventh Punjab Legislative Assembly
Punjab Legislative Assembly
Type
Type
History
Founded30 June 1977
Disbanded17 February 1980
Preceded bySixth Punjab Legislative Assembly
Succeeded byEighth Punjab Legislative Assembly
Leadership
Panna Lal Nayyar
Leader of House
(Chief Minister)
Structure
Seats117[3]
Political groups
Government (98)[a]
  •   SAD+ (83)
  • Confidence and supply (15)

Opposition (19)

Length of term
1977-1980
Elections
first-past-the-post
Last election
1977
Next election
1980

History

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After withdrawal of National Emergency in India, fresh election held in Punjab along with other States. Shiromani Akali Dal and Janata Party fought election in coalition and won. Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist) extended outside support to the Government.[5]

Despite Indian National Congress contested more seats than Janata Party but could able to won 17 seats and stood at third place for the first time in Punjab.

Dissolution of Assembly

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Notes

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  1. ^ The given members of parties were at the time of the formation of the Government. The numbers changed later on due to defections, resignations, mergers or splits
  2. ^ President's rule may be imposed when the "government in a state is not able to function as per the Constitution", which often happens because no party or coalition has a majority in the assembly. When President's rule is in force in a state, its council of ministers stands dissolved. The office of chief minister thus lies vacant, and the administration is taken over by the governor, who functions on behalf of the central government. At times, the legislative assembly also stands dissolved.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Former speaker of punjab vidhan sabha". speakerpunjab.gov.in. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. ^ page xiii of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Compendium. Punjab Legislative Assembly. Retrieved on 6 January 2022.
  3. ^ Statistical Report of Punjab Legislative Assembly election 1977 (Pdf). eci.gov.in. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  4. ^ Amberish K. Diwanji. "A dummy's guide to President's rule". Rediff.com. 15 March 2005.
  5. ^ Coalition politics in Punjab (Pdf), P. 83. Retrieved 23 January 2022.