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{{Short description|Legislative Assembly election}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1978 Assam Legislative Assembly election
| country = India
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1972 Assam Legislative Assembly election
| previous_year = 1972
| next_election = 1983 Assam Legislative Assembly election|
| next_year = 1983
| election_date = 25 February 1978
| seats_for_election = All 126 seats in the [[Legislature of Assam]]
| majority_seats = 64
| image_size = 100px
| party1 = [[Janata Party]]
| image1 = Golap Borbora (denoised).jpg
| leader1 = [[Golap Borbora]]
| leader_since1 = 1978
| leaders_seat1 = [[Tinsukia Assembly constituency|Tinsukia]]
| last_election1 = ''New''
| alliance1 =
| seats_before1 =
| seats_needed1 =
| seats1 = 53
| seat_change1 = ''New''
| percentage1 = 27.55%
| swing1 = ''New''
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = [[Chief Minister of Assam|CM]]
| before_election = [[Sarat Chandra Singha]]
| before_party = Indian National Congress
| after_election = [[Golap Borbora]]
| after_party = Janata Party
| image2 = {{eppt|Indian National Congress|height=100|width=80}}
| party2 = [[Indian National Congress]]
| last_election2 = 95
| seats2 = 34
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 61
| leader2 = -
| leader_since2 = -
| leaders_seat2 = -
| percentage2 = 32.4%
| swing2 = {{decrease}} 20.8[[percentage point|pp]]
}}

The '''1978 Assam Legislative Assembly election ''' was held to elect members for 126 assembly seats to constitute the seventh [[Assam Legislative Assembly]] on February 25 1978.<ref>{{cite news |last1=The Times of India |title=Janata upswing in Assam and Arunachal |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/594712550 |access-date=30 July 2024 |date=24 February 1978|id={{ProQuest|594712550}} }}</ref> The [[Janata Party]] formed the first non-Congress government led by [[Golap Borbora]] with 53 seats on March 12, 1978. He resigned as chief minister on September 4, 1979 after losing the support of a majority of MLAs. [[Jogendra Nath Hazarika]] was sworn in as chief minister on 9 November 1978. But he held the CM’s chair for only 94 days, as central government imposed [[President's rule]] in Assam.<ref name="eci1978">{{cite web | url=https://eci.gov.in/statistical-report/statistical-reports/ | title=STATISTICAL REPORTS OF GENERAL ELECTION TO STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (VIDHANSABHA) 1978 | publisher=Election Commission of india | accessdate=28 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="assam">{{cite web | url=http://assamassembly.gov.in/mla-1985-91.html | title=Assam Legislative Assembly - Members 1978-83 | publisher=Govt. of Assam | accessdate=29 November 2020}}</ref>

==Background==
The [[Navnirman Andolan]], which erupted in December 1973 started on the issue of hike in fees for an engineering college in [[Gujarat]], [[Jayaprakash Narayan]]'s movement against corruption, a three week long [[Bihar]] rail strike led by socialist leader [[George Fernandes]], had destabilized the political atmosphere of India.<ref name="express">{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/four-reasons-why-indira-gandhi-declared-the-emergency-5232397/ | title=Four reasons why India Gandhi declared emergency | publisher=[[Indian Express]] | date=25 June 2018 | accessdate=1 December 2020}}</ref> The sterilization program, which was tried to be implemented forcefully by [[Sanjay Gandhi]], son of the then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] also created a lot of public outrage .<ref name="abp">{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DJsaujUs3w | title=Pradhanmantri - Episode 12: Emergency in India, ABP News | publisher=ABP News}}</ref>

==Results==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!colspan=10|[[File:India Assam Legislative Assembly 1978.svg]]
|-
!S. No
!colspan="2"|Party
!Party-type!!Contested!! Won!!Votes polled %!! Vote % in seats contested
|-
| 1|| {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India}}||National || 35 ||5 || 4.09 ||14.39
|-
| 2|| {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)|dab=yes}}|| National || 27 || 11 ||5.62 ||25.87
|-
| 3|| {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}|| National || 126 || 26 ||23.62||23.62
|-
| 4|| {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (I)}} || National || 115 ||8||8.78||9.84
|-
| 5|| {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}} ||National ||117||53||27.55||29.95
|-
| 6|| {{Full party name with color|All India Forward Bloc}}||State||3 ||0||0.09 ||4.28
|-
| 7|| {{Full party name with color|Plain Tribals Council of Assam}}|| State ||9||4||2.60 ||32.54
|-
| 8|| {{Full party name with color|Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)}}|| State ||6||0 || 0.44||8.85
|-
| 9|| {{Full party name with color|All India Gorkha League}}||Registered||1||0 ||0.04 ||6.08
|-
| 10|| {{Full party name with color|Revolutionary Communist Party of India}}|| Registered ||10||4||1.40 ||17.68
|-
| 11|| {{Full party name with color|Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) }}|| Registered ||4||0||0.07 ||2.29
|-
| 12||{{Full party name with color|Independent politician}}|| || ||15|| 25.67||26.50
|-
| colspan="5 style="text-align:center;"|'''Total''' ||'''126'''|| ||
|-
|align=left colspan=8|Source: ECI<ref name="eci1978"/>
|}

==Elected members==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Constituency
!Reserved for<br/>([[Scheduled Castes|SC]]/[[Scheduled Tribes|ST]]/None)
!Member
!colspan=2|Party
|-
| Ratabari || SC || Lilamoy Das || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Patharkandi || None || Fakrul Islam || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Karimganj North || None || Nishith Ranjan Das || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Karimganj South || None || Abdul Muqtadir Choudhury || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Badarpur || None || Ramendra De || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Hailakandi || None || Dipak Bhattacharjee || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Katlicherra || None || Gouri Sankar Roy || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Algapur || None || Nepal Chandra Das || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|-
| Silchar || None || Noorul Kuda || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Sonai || None || Altaf Hossain Mazumdar || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Dholai || SC || Sisir Ranjan Das || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|-
| Udharbond || None || Jagannath Singh || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Lakhipur || None || Kazi Kutub Uddin Ahmed || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Barkhola || None || A.f.golam Osmani || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Katigora || None || Abdul Kiyum Choudhury || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Haflong || ST || Sona Ram Thaosen || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Bokajan || ST || Bilton G.momin || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Howraghat || ST || Barelong Terang || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Diphu || ST || Gandhi Ram Timung || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Baithalangso || ST || Dhani Ram Rongpi || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Mankachar || None || Zahirul Islam || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Salmara South || None || Dewan Joynal Abedin || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Dhubri || None || Mohammad Umaruddin || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Gauripur || None || Mohammad Azad Ali || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Golakganj || None || Aluddin Sarkar || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Bilasipara West || None || Gaisuddin Ahmed || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Bilasipara East || None || Surat Chanddra Sinha || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Gossaigaon || None || Mathias Tudu || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Kokrajhar West || ST || Ranendra Narayan Basumatari || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Kokrajhar East || ST || Samar Brahma Choudhury || {{Full party name with color|Plain Tribals Council of Assam}}
|-
| Sidli || ST || Panchanan Brahma || {{Full party name with color|Plain Tribals Council of Assam}}
|-
| Bongaigaon || None || Mathura Mohan Sinha || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Bijni || None || Padmalochan Boro || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Abhayapuri North || None || Pani Medhi || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Abhayapuri South || SC || Rabindra Nath Choudhury || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Dudhnai || ST || Jagat Chandra Patgiri || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Goalpara East || None || Birendra Nath Choudhury || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Goalpara West || None || Nazmul Haque || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Jaleswar || None || Afzalur Rahman || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Sorbhog || None || Hemen Das || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Bhabanipur || None || Tarini Charan Das || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Patacharkuchi || None || Bhubaneswar Barman || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Barpeta || None || A. Latif || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Jania || None || Abdus Sobhan || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|-
| Baghbar || None || Ibrahim Ali || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Sarukhetri || None || Sirajul Haque || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Chenga || None || Danes Ali Ahmed || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Boko || SC || Umesh Chandra Das || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Chaygaon || None || A. N. Akram Hussain || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|-
| Palasbari || None || Harendra Goswami || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Jalukbari || None || Lakhyadhar Choudhury || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Dispur || None || Tarini Mohan Barua || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Gauhati East || None || Ajoy Kumar Dutta || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Gauhati West || None || Kiran Chandra Bezbarua || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Hajo || None || Rabindra Nath Malakar || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Kamalpur || None || Daibasakti Deka || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Rangiya || None || Purna Boro || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Tamulpur || None || Padam Bahadur Chouhan || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Nalbari || None || Narendra Nath Dutta || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Barkhetry || None || Seikh Chand Mahammad || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Dharmapur || None || Ramani Barman || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Barama || ST || Baikuntha Nath Das || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Chapaguri || ST || Manik Chandra Das || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Panery || None || Ramesh Chandra Saharia || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Kalaigaon || None || Nagen Sarma || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Sipajhar || None || Madhab Rajbanshi || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Mangaldoi || SC || Anil Das || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Dalgaon || None || Syeda Anwara Taimur || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|-
| Udalguri || ST || Binoy Kumar Basumatary || {{Full party name with color|Plain Tribals Council of Assam}}
|-
| Majbat || None || Silvius Condpan || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Dhekiajuli || None || Pratap Kalita || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Barchalla || None || Kamal Chandra Basumatari || {{Full party name with color|Plain Tribals Council of Assam}}
|-
| Tezpur || None || Jiban Bora || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Rangapara || None || Golok Rajbanshi || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Sootea || None || Golok Kakati || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Biswanath || None || Kosheswar Bora || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Behali || None || Bishnulal Upadhaya || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Gohpur || None || Ram Chandra Sarmah || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Jagiroad || SC || Prasad Chandra Doloi || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Marigaon || None || Kaliram Dekta Raja || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Laharighat || None || Abul Kashem || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Raha || SC || Baliram Das || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Dhing || None || Md. Samsul Huda || {{Full party name with color|Revolutionary Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Batadroba || None || Baneswar Saikia || {{Full party name with color|Revolutionary Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Rupohihat || None || Mohammad Idris || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Nowgong || None || Mukut Sarma || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Barhampur || None || Lakeshwar Gohain || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Samaguri || None || Bhabendra Kumar Saikia || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Kaliabor || None || Atil Chandra Goswami || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Jamunamukh || None || Mujamil Ali Choudhury || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Hojai || None || Santi Ranjan Das Gupta || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Lumding || None || Biresh Misra || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Bokakhat || None || Chatra Gopal Karmakar || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Sarupathar || None || Aklius Tirkey || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Golaghat || None || Soneswar Bora || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Khumtai || None || Nogen Borua || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Dergaon || SC || Ramesh Das || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Jorhat || None || Dulal Chandra Baruah || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Majuli || ST || Chakbhal Kagyang || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Titabar || None || Giridhar Thengal || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Mariani || None || Gajen Tanti || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Teok || None || Devananda Boara || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Amguri || None || Khagen Borbarua || {{Full party name with color|Revolutionary Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Nazira || None || Hiteswar Saikia || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Mahmara || None || Budha Barua || {{Full party name with color|Revolutionary Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Sonari || None || Satya Tati || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|-
| Thowra || None || Jogen Gogoi || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Sibsagar || None || Promode Gogoi || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Bihpuria || None || Premadhar Bora || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Naoboicha || None || Afazuddin Ahmed || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Lakhimpur || None || Sulo Bora || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India}}
|-
| Dhakuakhana || ST || Lakhya Nath Doley || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Dhemaji || ST || Purna Chandra Bora || {{Full party name with color|Independent (politician)}}
|-
| Jonai || ST || Romesh Mohan Kouli || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Moran || None || Joy Chandra Nagbanshi || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|-
| Dibrugarh || None || Keshab Chandra Gogoi || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Lahowal || None || Dipak Moormoo || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Duliajan || None || Jogen Hazarika || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Tingkhong || None || Bhadreswar Gogoi || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Naharkatia || None || Sasha Kamal Handique || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
| Chabua || None || Jnan Gogoi || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Tinsukia || None || Golap Borborah || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Digboi || None || Rameswar Dhanowar || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|-
| Margherita || None || Kul Bahadur Chetri || {{Full party name with color|Janata Party}}
|-
| Doom Dooma || None || Dileswar Tanti || {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| Sadiya || None || Bipin Hazarika || {{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Assam elections}}

[[Category:1978 State Assembly elections in India|Assam]]
[[Category:State Assembly elections in Assam]]
[[Category:1970s in Assam]]
[[Category:February 1978 in Asia]]

1978 Assam Legislative Assembly election - Revision history

CleanupBot at 05:18, 22 March 2026