← 1977 May 1982 37.58% 23.87% | 36 31 Date May 1982 | |
Winner Bhajan Lal | ||
Elections to the Haryana Legislative Assembly were held in May 1982. No party gained a majority of seats.
Controversy
In 1982 election, the INC emerged as a single largest party with 36 seats but INLD and BJP has pre poll alliance and got 37 seats in total. As no party has clear cut majority, it was resulted in a hung assembly and left on governor discretion to whom he may call upon to form government. At that time, INC under leadership of Indira Gandhi has majority government at center and governor (who is constitutional head of state government) is an agent of center in the state. Nothing is specified on constitution which method shall be adopted by governor to ascertain majority support but from convention especially Kerala experience, it was clear that pre poll alliance get equal status as of political parties.
The G.D. Tapase (Governor of Haryana) first called Devi Lal on 22 May 1982 (leader of INLD or LKD + BJP alliance) to prove his majority by morning of 24 May. But in mean time, Bhajan Lal fresh from his re election as leader of the INC met the governor and sworn in as Chief Minister. Whereas Bhajan Lal enjoys support of only 42 MLA's and Devi Lal came to governor with support of 45 MLA's can't form government due to discriminatory methods adopted by governor under pressure from Indira Gandhi (Prime Minister at that time).
But in election of 1987, haryana people gave a clear cut majority to LKD or INLD and BJP alliance with overwhelming majority of 76(60+16) out of 90 assembly seats whereas INC suffers a humiliating defeat and won just 5 out of 90 seats as compared 36 seats in last assemble election.