1977 Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh

The 1977 Lok Sabha election was held after the Emergency, a period of internal crackdown imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The election resulted in a heavy defeat for the Indian National Congress (R), with Indira Gandhi herself losing her seat in Rae Bareli and her son Sanjay Gandhi losing in Amethi. Morarji Desai of the Janata Party took office as the first non Congress Prime Minister on 24 March 1977.

In North India, the Congress (R) was virtually wiped out, while in stark contrast, it won almost all seats in the South, particularly in Andhra Pradesh. The newly formed Bharatiya Lok Dal – later renamed the Janata Party – managed to win only a single seat in Nandyal, where former Chief Minister Neelam Sanjiva Reddy emerged victorious, though the party finished as runner-up in all other constituencies.

Following the election, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha on 26 March 1977. However, he resigned from the post within a short time – on 13 July 1977 – and went on to become the President of India, serving from 25 July 1977 to 25 July 1982.

List of Candidates