| Election Name: | 1980 Kerala state assembly election |
| Country: | India |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1977 Kerala Legislative Assembly election |
| Previous Year: | 1977 |
| Next Election: | 1982 Kerala Legislative Assembly election |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Election Date: | 3 January and 5 January 1980 |
| Seats For Election: | All 140 seats in the Kerala Legislative Assembly |
| Majority Seats: | 71 |
| Leader1: | E.K. Nayanar |
| Party1: | Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
| Leaders Seat1: | Malampuzha |
| Alliance1: | LDF |
| Seats1: | 93 |
| Seat Change1: | New |
| Leader2: | K. Karunakaran |
| Party2: | Indian National Congress |
| Alliance2: | UDF |
| Leaders Seat2: | Mala |
| Seats2: | 46 |
| Seat Change2: | New |
| Map Size: | 150px |
| Chief Minister | |
| Posttitle: | Chief Minister |
| Before Election: | President's Rule |
| After Election: | E. K. Nayanar |
| After Party: | CPI(M) |
| Turnout: | 72.23% |
Elections were held on 1980 January 3 and 5 to elect members to the sixth Niyamasabha. This election saw the formation of two pre-poll alliances, viz. LDF and UDF, most of whose constituent parties were part of the erstwhile United Front. CPI(M)-led LDF to win the election, after winning 93 seats altogether. E. K. Nayanar was sworn in as the Chief Minister on 26 March 1980 [1]
The Congress party had split into two splinter parties, the INC (I) and the INC (U). Kerala Congress too underwent a split, with the formation of KC (M) and the KC (J). The ML (O) assumed the name AIML.[2] The United Front which won the 1977 election, had dissolved in 1979 which lead to the creation of two long-running alliance formula in the state:
| Party | Seats | Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Communist Party of India (CPI) | 17 | Left Democratic Front |
| Communist Party of Indian (Marxist) (CPM) | 35 | |
| Indian National Congress (U) (INC (U)) | 21 | |
| Kerala Congress (Pillai Group) (KCP) | 1 | |
| Kerala Congress (M) (KCM) | 8 | |
| All India Muslim League (AIMUL) | 5 | |
| Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) | 6 | |
| Indian National Congress (I) (INC (I)) | 17 | United Democratic Front |
| Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) | 14 | |
| Kerala Congress (J) (KEC) | 6 | |
| Janata Party (JNP) | 5 | |
| National Democratic Party (NDP) | 3 | |
| Praja Socialist Party (PSP) | 1 | |
| Independent (IND) | 1 | N/A |
| Total | 140 | LDF-93,UDF-46,IND-1 |
| 1 | Manjeshwar | GEN | Dr. A. Subba Rao | M | CPI | 20816 | Chorkalam Abdullah | M | MUL | 20660 |
| 2 | Kasaragod | GEN | C. T. Ahamedali | M | MUL | 30793 | Gorvacis Areeckal | M | KEC | 14113 |
| 3 | Udma | GEN | K. Purushothaman | M | CPM | 31948 | N. K. Balakrishnan | M | IND | 26928 |
| 4 | Hosdrug | SC | K. T. Kumaran | M | CPI | 42136 | T. Kumaran Master | M | INC(I) | 32031 |
| 5 | Trikaripur | GEN | P. Karunakaran | M | CPM | 47643 | K. P. Kunhikannan | M | INC(I) | 32026 |
| 6 | Irikkur | GEN | Ram Chandran Kacannoppally | M | INC(U) | 37440 | Dr. K. C. Joseph | M | KCJ | 31992 |
| 7 | Payyannur | GEN | N. Subrammaniya Shenoy | M | CPM | 46351 | T. V. Koran | M | IND | 26939 |
| 8 | Taliparamba | GEN | C. P. Moossan Kutty | M | CPM | 47420 | Chandren T. P. | M | IND | 30829 |
| 9 | Azhikode | GEN | P. Devooty | F | CPM | 38985 | T. V. Narayanan | M | INC(I) | 24502 |
| 10 | Cannanore | GEN | P. Bhaskaran | M | JNP | 35565 | O. Bharathan | M | CPM | 35216 |
| 11 | Edakkad | GEN | P. P. V. Moosa | M | IML | 39843 | K. Sudhakaran | M | JNP | 29886 |
| 12 | Tellicherry | GEN | M. V. Rajagopalan | M | CPM | 42673 | V. P. Marakikar | M | INC(I) | 25971 |
| 13 | Peringalam | GEN | A. K. Saseendran | M | INC(U) | 38049 | K. C. Marar | M | JNP | 32159 |
| 14 | Kuthuparamba | GEN | N. V. Raghavan | M | CPM | 44207 | R. Karunakaran | M | IND | 22556 |
| 15 | Peravoor | GEN | K. P. Noorudeen | M | INC(U) | 45486 | C. M. Karunakaran Nambiar | M | INC(I) | 31370 |
| 16 | North Wayanad | ST | M. V. Rajan Master | M | INC(I) | 33723 | A. Gopalan | M | CPM | 29940 |
| 17 | Badagara | GEN | K. Chandra Sekharan | M | JNP | 41684 | P. V. Kunhikannan | M | CPM | 40322 |
| 18 | Nadapuram | GEN | K. T. Kanaran | M | CPI | 42680 | Dr. K. G. Adiyedi | M | INC(I) | 36940 |
| 19 | Meppayur | GEN | A. V. Abdulurahiman Haji | M | IML | 43851 | P. K. K. Bava | M | MUL | 36044 |
| 20 | Quilandy | GEN | Manimangalath Kuttialy | M | INC(I) | 42171 | P. K. Sankaran | M | CPM | 37143 |
| 21 | Perambra | GEN | V. V. Dakshinamoorthy | M | CPM | 44695 | K. A. Devassia | M | KCJ | 35227 |
| 22 | Balusseri | GEN | A. C. Shanmukhadas | M | INC(U) | 39664 | P. K. Sankaran Kutty | M | JNP | 30716 |
| 23 | Koduvally | GEN | P. V. Mohammed | M | MUL | 41134 | K. Moossakutty | M | CPM | 35608 |
| 24 | Calicut- I | GEN | N. Chandrasekhara Kurup | M | CPM | 41796 | K. T. Raghavan | M | INC(I) | 38011 |
| 25 | Calicut- II | GEN | P. M. Abubackar | M | IML | 40160 | C. K. Nanu | M | JNP | 34931 |
| 26 | Beypore | GEN | N. P. Moideen | M | INC(U) | 43360 | N. K. Abdulla Koya | M | MUL | 36052 |
| 27 | Kunnamangalam | SC | K. P. Raman | M | IML | 35234 | K. Gopalan | M | INC(I) | 31173 |
| 28 | Thiruvambady | GEN | P. Cyriac John | M | INC(U) | 35623 | N. M. Hussain | M | MUL | 29953 |
| 29 | Kalpetta | GEN | M. Kamalam | F | JNP | 37442 | K. Abdul Khader | M | RSP | 24403 |
| 30 | Sultan's Battery | GEN | K. K. Ramachandran Master | M | INC(I) | 36974 | P. T. Jose | M | KEC | 29580 |
| 31 | Wandoor | SC | M. A. Kuttappan | M | INC(I) | 35187 | P. Suresh | M | INC(U) | 29298 |
| 32 | Nilambur | GEN | C. Haridas | M | INC(U) | 41744 | T. K. Hamsa | M | INC(I) | 35321 |
| 32 | Nilambur | GEN | A.Mohammad | M | INC(U) | 49609 | M.R.Chandran | M | INC(I) | 31768 |
| 33 | Manjeri | GEN | C. H. Mohamed Koya | M | MUL | 43209 | M. P. M. Aboobacker Kunikkal | M | IML | 21905 |
| 33 | Manjeri | GEN | I.Kurikkal.M.P.M | M | MUL | 47988 | M.C.Mohammed | M | IML | 26179 |
| 34 | Malappuram | GEN | U. A. Beeran | M | MUL | 36602 | T. K. F. M. A. Muthukoya Thangal | M | IML | 17272 |
| 35 | Kondotty | GEN | P. Seethi Haji | M | MUL | 41848 | M. C. Mohamed | M | IML | 26650 |
| 36 | Tirurangadi | GEN | Avukkaderkutty Maha | M | MUL | 37775 | K. Koyakunhi Naha | M | CPI | 25816 |
| 37 | Tanur | GEN | E. Ahmmed | M | MUL | 38998 | U. K. Bhasy | M | INC(U) | 15265 |
| 38 | Tirur | GEN | P. T. Kunhi Mohammed Alias Kunhutty Hajee | M | MUL | 38469 | Mohammed S/O Abdu | M | IML | 36201 |
| 39 | Ponnani | GEN | K. Sreedharan | M | CPM | 38791 | P. T. Kohanakrishnan | M | INC(I) | 36475 |
| 40 | Kuttippuram | GEN | Korambayil Ahammed Haji | M | MUL | 33863 | P. V. S. Musthafa Pookkoya Thangal | M | IML | 15703 |
| 41 | Mankada | GEN | K. P. Majeed | M | MUL | 35623 | Abu Haji K. | M | IML | 31861 |
| 42 | Perinthalmanna | GEN | Nalakath Sooppy | M | MUL | 37203 | Paloli Mohammed Kutty | M | CPM | 33289 |
| 43 | Thrithala | SC | M. P. Thami | M | INC(I) | 30214 | N. Subbayyan | M | INC(U) | 29595 |
| 44 | Pattambi | GEN | M. P. Gangadharan | M | INC(I) | 31570 | E. P. Gopalan | M | CPI | 28119 |
| 45 | Ottapalam | GEN | V. C. Kabeer | M | INC(U) | 23683 | P. R. Nambiar | M | JNP | 20499 |
| 46 | Sreekrishnapuram | GEN | K. Sankaranarayanan | M | INC(I) | 33532 | M. P. Kunju | M | CPM | 33114 |
| 47 | Mannarkkad | GEN | A. P. Hamza | M | MUL | 30091 | A. N. Yusuf | M | CPI | 28703 |
| 48 | Malampuzha | GEN | E. K. Nayanar | M | CPM | 35333 | K. Rajan | M | JNP | 19776 |
| 49 | Palghat | GEN | C. M. Sundaram | M | IND | 35902 | K. A. Chandran | M | INC(U) | 25695 |
| 50 | Chittur | GEN | K. Krishnankutty | M | JNP | 23882 | P. Sankar | M | CPI | 23578 |
| 51 | Kollengode | GEN | C. Vasudeva Menon | M | CPM | 36688 | A. Sunna Sahib | M | INC(I) | 34156 |
| 52 | Coyalmannam | SC | T. K. Arumughan | M | CPM | 34530 | V. Mani | M | INC(I) | 28210 |
| 53 | Alathur | GEN | C. T. Krishnan | M | CPM | 36244 | K. P. Kaladharan | M | IND | 30262 |
| 54 | Chelakara | SC | K. K. Balakrishnan | M | INC(I) | 32024 | K. S. Sankaran | M | CPM | 30899 |
| 55 | Wadakkanchery | GEN | K. S. Narayanan Namboodri | M | INC(I) | 34658 | A. Padmanabhan | M | CPM | 32391 |
| 56 | Kunnamkulam | GEN | K. P. Viswanathan | M | INC(U) | 33127 | N. Madhava | M | IND | 16421 |
| 57 | Cherpu | GEN | K. P. Prabhakaran | M | CPI | 35973 | Therambil Ramakrishnan | M | IND | 29253 |
| 58 | Trichur | GEN | M. K. Kannan | M | CPM | 32296 | K. J. George | M | JNP | 28872 |
| 59 | Ollur | GEN | Raghavan Poshakadavil | M | INC(I) | 32302 | Francis P. R. | M | INC(U) | 32277 |
| 60 | Kodakara | GEN | Lonappan Nambadan | M | KEC | 29023 | V. L. Lonappan | M | INC(I) | 24503 |
| 61 | Chalakudi | GEN | P. K. Ittoop | M | KEC | 30786 | P. A. Thomas | M | INC(I) | 30657 |
| 62 | Mala | GEN | K. Karunakaran | M | INC(I) | 35964 | Paul Kokkat | M | CPM | 32562 |
| 63 | Irinjalakuda | GEN | Joes Thanickal | M | INC(U) | 36086 | A. P. George | M | JNP | 28396 |
| 64 | Manalur | GEN | V. M. Sudheeran | M | INC(U) | 35551 | N. I. Devassikutty | M | INC(I) | 27619 |
| 65 | Guruvayoor | GEN | B. V. Seethi Thangal | M | MUL | 30176 | C. K. Kumaran | M | CPM | 28424 |
| 66 | Nattika | GEN | P. K. Gopalakrishnan | M | CPI | 31463 | K. Moidu | M | JNP | 26900 |
| 67 | Kodungallur | GEN | V. K. Rajan | M | CPI | 35567 | Kollickatharan Ravi | M | IND | 33047 |
| 68 | Ankamali | GEN | A. P. Kurrian | M | CPM | 40565 | P. J. Joy | M | JNP | 38759 |
| 69 | Vadakkekara | GEN | T. K. Abdu | M | CPM | 38387 | P. N. Sukumaran Nair | M | JNP | 26640 |
| 70 | Parur | GEN | A. C. Jose | M | INC(U) | 31246 | K. P. George | M | IND | 26761 |
| 70 | Parur | GEN | A.C.Jose | M | IND | 32781 | S.Pillai | M | CPI | 31335 |
| 71 | Narakkal | SC | M. K. Krishnan | M | CPM | 34932 | T. K. C. Vaduthala | M | IND | 31959 |
| 72 | Ernakulam | GEN | A. L. Jacob | M | INC(I) | 36668 | K. N. Ravindranath | M | CPM | 36091 |
| 73 | Mattancherry | GEN | M. J. Zakaria | M | IML | 26543 | A. S. Abdulrahiman | M | JNP | 24757 |
| 74 | Palluruthy | GEN | T. P. Peethambaran Master | M | INC(U) | 40879 | T. T. Mathew | M | KCJ | 33663 |
| 75 | Thrippunithura | GEN | T. K. Ramakrishnan | M | CPM | 44813 | H. N. Velayudhan Nair | M | IND | 34720 |
| 76 | Alwaye | GEN | K. Mohammed Ali | M | INC(U) | 46291 | T. H. Mustaffa | M | INC(I) | 39962 |
| 77 | Perumbavoor | GEN | P. R. Sivan | M | CPM | 40525 | Kochunny Master A. A. | M | INC(I) | 33455 |
| 78 | Kunnathunad | GEN | P. P. Esthose | M | CPM | 36460 | P. P. Thankachan | M | INC(I) | 36027 |
| 79 | Piravom | GEN | P. C. Chaeko | M | INC(U) | 38659 | C. Paulose | M | IND | 35408 |
| 80 | Muvattupuzha | GEN | V. Joseph | M | KCJ | 37044 | Johny Nelloor Varkey | M | KEC | 33523 |
| 81 | Kothamangalam | GEN | T. M. Jacob | M | KCJ | 40356 | M. V. Mani | M | KEC | 32843 |
| 82 | Thodupuzha | GEN | P. J. Joseph | M | KCJ | 43410 | Kusuman Joseph | F | INC(U) | 33093 |
| 83 | Devicolam | SC | G. Varadan | M | CPM | 36346 | P. A. Prakash | M | IND | 19951 |
| 84 | Idukki | GEN | Jose Kuttyani | M | INC(I) | 33367 | V. T. Sebastian | M | KEC | 28838 |
| 85 | Udumbanchola | GEN | Thomas Joseph | M | KEC | 38417 | Pachady Sreedaran | M | IND | 33030 |
| 86 | Peermade | GEN | C. A. Kurian | M | CPI | 34795 | Michaal Manarkattu | M | INC(I) | 31444 |
| 87 | Kanjirappally | GEN | Thomas Kallampally | M | KEC | 33172 | Joseph Varanam | M | KCJ | 31167 |
| 88 | Vazhoor | GEN | M. K. Joseph | M | KEC | 27819 | P. S. John | M | INC(I) | 16377 |
| 89 | Changanacherry | GEN | C. F. Thomas | M | KEC | 37041 | K. J. Chacko | M | KCJ | 34408 |
| 90 | Kottayam | GEN | K. M. Abraham | M | CPM | 37588 | P. B. R. Pillai | M | JNP | 25624 |
| 91 | Ettumanoor | GEN | Vaikom Viswan | M | CPM | 34239 | George Joseph Podipara | M | IND | 33865 |
| 92 | Puthuppally | GEN | Oommen Chandy | M | INC(U) | 38612 | M. R. G. Panicker | M | IND | 24953 |
| 93 | Poonjar | GEN | P. C. George | M | KCJ | 25806 | V. J. Joseph | M | KEC | 24658 |
| 94 | Palai | GEN | K. N. Mani | M | KEC | 38739 | M. M. Jacob | M | INC(I) | 34173 |
| 95 | Kaduthuruthy | GEN | O. Lukose | M | KEC | 32863 | E. J. Lukose | M | KCJ | 31577 |
| 96 | Vaikom | SC | M. K. Kesavan | M | CPI | 40590 | Gopalan | M | IND | 28098 |
| 97 | Aroor | GEN | K. R. Gouri | F | CPM | 44219 | T. K. Sadanandan (Sadanadan Kunjan) | M | INC(I) | 31855 |
| 98 | Sherthalai | GEN | P. S. Sreenivasan | M | CPI | 38613 | Joseph Mathan | M | JNP | 27200 |
| 99 | Mararikulam | GEN | A. V. Thamarakshan | M | RSP | 45714 | Raju Gangadharan | M | IND | 35885 |
| 100 | Alleppey | GEN | P. K. Vasudevan Nair | M | CPI | 34786 | K. P. Ramchandran Nair | M | IND | 33783 |
| 101 | Ambalapuzha | GEN | P. K. Chandranandan | M | CPM | 36009 | V. Dinakaran | M | IND | 32884 |
| 102 | Kuttanad | GEN | Ooman Mathew | M | KCJ | 37346 | K. P. Joseph | M | CPM | 33256 |
| 103 | Haripad | GEN | C. B. Warrier | M | CPM | 41514 | G. P. Mangalathu Madem | M | INC(I) | 38105 |
| 104 | Kayamkulam | GEN | Thachedy Prabhakaran | M | INC(U) | 41320 | Thundathil Kunjukrishna Pillai | M | INC(I) | 29718 |
| 105 | Thiruvalla | GEN | P. C. Thomas | M | JNP | 29485 | Varghese Karippavil | M | KCP | 28285 |
| 106 | Kallooppara | GEN | K. A. Mathew | M | KCJ | 29399 | C. A. Mathew | M | KEC | 24261 |
| 107 | Aranmula | GEN | K. K. Sreenivasan | M | INC(I) | 30227 | Thoppil Ravi | M | INC(U) | 27121 |
| 108 | Chengannur | GEN | K. R. Saraswathi Amma | F | IND | 35910 | Thomas Kuthiravattom | M | KEC | 31610 |
| 109 | Mavelikara | GEN | S. Govinda Kurup | M | CPM | 37990 | N. Bhaskaran Nair | M | IND | 32063 |
| 110 | Pandalam | SC | P. K. Velayudhan | M | INC(U) | 39890 | P. S. Rajan | M | INC(I) | 32376 |
| 111 | Ranni | GEN | M. C. Cherian | M | INC(U) | 31243 | Sunny Panavelil | M | INC(I) | 30097 |
| 112 | Pathanamthitta | GEN | K. K. Nair | M | IND | 27549 | Eapan Varughese | M | KCJ | 25566 |
| 113 | Konni | GEN | V. S. Chandra Sekhar Pillai | M | CPM | 33107 | G. Gopinadhan Nair | M | INC(U) | 31054 |
| 114 | Pathanapuram | GEN | E. K. Pillai | M | CPI | 37527 | Bava Sahib | M | IND | 28328 |
| 115 | Punalur | GEN | P. K. Sreenivasan | M | CPI | 36133 | Sam Oommen Oommen | M | KCJ | 33920 |
| 115 | Punalur | GEN | V.S.Pillai | M | KCJ | 46553 | P.K.Sreenivasan | M | CPI | 45579 |
| 116 | Chadayamangalam | GEN | E. Chandrasekharan Nair | M | CPI | 33991 | Valiyaveedan Mohammed Kunju | M | MUL | 23107 |
| 117 | Kottarakkara | GEN | R. Balakrishna Pillai | M | KCP | 48473 | Thevannoor Sreedharan Nair | M | IND | 11762 |
| 118 | Neduvathur | SC | C. K. Thankappan | M | CPM | 35041 | M. R. Kottara | M | INC(I) | 28784 |
| 119 | Adoor | GEN | C. P. Karunakaran Pillai | M | CPM | 31639 | Thennala Balakrishna Pillai | M | INC(I) | 28326 |
| 120 | Kunnathur | SC | Kallada Narayanan | M | RSP | 40582 | Kottakkuzhy Sukumaran | M | JNP | 29686 |
| 121 | Karunagappally | GEN | B. M. Sheriff | M | CPI | 35831 | T. V. Vijayarajan | M | IND | 33842 |
| 122 | Chavara | GEN | Baby John | M | RSP | 41448 | C. Rajendran | M | JNP | 24835 |
| 123 | Kundara | GEN | V. V. Joseph | M | CPM | 39690 | V. Sankara Narayana Pillai | M | INC(I) | 27319 |
| 124 | Quilon | GEN | K. Sivadasan | M | RSP | 35749 | C. V. Padmarajan | M | INC(I) | 33335 |
| 125 | Eravipuram | GEN | R. S. Unni | M | RSP | 45281 | A. Yunus Kunju | M | MUL | 31712 |
| 126 | Chathanoor | GEN | J. Chitharanjan | M | CPI | 34037 | Varinjam Vasu Pillai | M | JNP | 28670 |
| 127 | Varkala | GEN | Varkala Radhakrishan | M | CPM | 34148 | G. Karthikeyan | M | INC(I) | 26887 |
| 128 | Attingal | GEN | Vakkom Purushothaman | M | INC(U) | 35634 | Vakkom Devarajan | M | IND | 22561 |
| 129 | Kilimanoor | SC | Bhargavi Thunkappan | F | CPI | 36513 | V. K. Ram | M | JNP | 14761 |
| 130 | Vamanapuram | GEN | Koliyakode N. Krishnan Nair | M | CPM | 38333 | A. Nafeesath Beevi | F | INC(I) | 26273 |
| 131 | Ariyanad | GEN | K. Pankajakshan | M | RSP | 29108 | Charupara Ravi | M | JNP | 27822 |
| 132 | Nedumangad | GEN | K. V. Surendranath | M | CPI | 33919 | Purathekattu Chandrasekharan Nair | M | IND | 27619 |
| 133 | Kazhakuttam | GEN | N. M. Hassan | M | INC(U) | 35739 | Lakshmanen Vaidyan | M | INC(I) | 32939 |
| 134 | Trivandrum North | GEN | K. Anirudhan | M | CPM | 36460 | R. Sundaresan Nair | M | JNP | 34200 |
| 135 | Trivandrum West | GEN | P. A. Mohemmed Kannu | M | MUL | 31490 | K. C. Vamadevan | M | RSP | 26231 |
| 136 | Trivandrum East | GEN | C. S. Neelakantan Nair | M | IND | 33519 | K. Sankaranarayana Pillai | M | INC(U) | 32734 |
| 137 | Nemom | GEN | E. Ramesan Nair | M | INC(I) | 37589 | S. Varaderajan Nair | M | INC(U) | 30312 |
| 138 | Kovalam | GEN | M. R. Raghu Chandra Bal | M | INC(I) | 40047 | V. Thankayyan | M | CPI | 32526 |
| 139 | Neyyattinkara | GEN | R. Sundaresan Nair | M | IND | 39975 | R. Parameswaran Pillai | M | CPM | 30331 |
| 140 | Parassala | GEN | N. Sundaran Nadar | M | INC(I) | 40680 | M. Sathynesan | M | CPM | 26121 |
| Bye-poll on 1980 | |
| Bye-poll on 1984 |
On 25 January 1980, a 17 member ministry headed by E.K. Nayanar of CPI(M) was sworn in, revoking President's rule.[5]
Despite the thumping majority for the LDF in the Assembly, the Nayanar government’s majority depended on the support of 21 members of the Congress (U), led by A. K. Antony, as well as eight members of the Mani faction of the Kerala Congress. Both of these factions had trouble with the CPI (M) style of rule, and withdrew their support on 16 October 1981, leading to Nayanar’s resignation 4 days later.
Following two months of uncertainty, Congress (S) decided to suppoer Congress (Indira), and an eight-member ministry was formed on 28 December 1981, with K. Karunakaran, of Indira-Congress, at the helm. It was the twelfth ministry in Kerala. However Karunakaran couldn’t build a comfortable majority either, as troubles began to rise as the Congress (S) split into two factions, 16 members joining the Antony group and six remaining as members of the Chacko group, along with a split in Janata Party.
With these shifts, the Assembly was divided exactly down the middle, with the ruling front of the Congress and the CPI (M)-led Opposition both having 70 MLAs each. The only vote that shifted the balance was Speaker A. C. Jose’s. His casting vote, exercised eight times, was the only thing that kept the Karunakaran government in power for nearly three months.
The deadlock finally came to an end when Lonappan Nambadan, a founder-member of the Kerala Congress – then allied with the ruling United Democratic Front – voted against the government. On 17 March 1982, the Karunakaran government resigned and the Assembly was dissolved. The state came under President’s rule for the eighth time, forcing an interim election in 1982.[6]