Orissa Assembly Election Results in 1980

Elections to the 8th term of the Legislative Assembly in Orissa were held in May 1980, after President’s rule was imposed in the state for a brief prior period. The Government was dismissed in spite of the then Chief Minister Nilamani Routray of the Janata Party enjoying majority support in the Assembly, thereby leading to imposition of President’s rule. Fresh elections were held in May of the same year, with candidates from political parties contesting for a total of 147 Assembly constituencies. Out of these total 147 constituencies, 91 were for general candidates, 22 seats were reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates and 34 reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates. The Indian National Congress (I) won with a thumping majority, bagging 118 out of the 147 Assembly constituencies in which it contested, and hence formed the government in the state. No other party managed to bag seats in double-digits.

A descendent of the Coorg Dewans, Cheppudira Muthana Poonacha remained the Governor of Orissa during this tenure, though for brief periods in between, he was substituted by acting Governors in his place. From 1983 to the end of this tenure, Padma Shri Bishambhar Nath Pande was made the Governor of the state. Somnath Rath was the Speaker of the Orissa Vidhan Sabha during this period, before Prasanna Kumar Dash took over as Speaker in 1984. Himansu Shekhar Padhi was the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Janaki Ballabh Patnaik of the Indian National Congress was the Chief Minister of Orissa during this period, while Sarat Deb of the United Front was the Leader of Opposition in the 8th Orissa Assembly.

Some of the most important legislations passed in the Orissa Legislative Assembly during this period were:

• Orissa Appropriation Act, 1980
• Orissa Escheats (Amendment) Act, 1980
• Orissa Debt Relief Act, 1980
• Orissa Military Police Act, 1980
• Orissa Irrigation (Amendment) Act, 1981
• Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya Act, 1981
• Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1981
• Orissa Higher Secondary Education Act, 1982
• Orissa development Authorities Act, 1982
• Orissa Gram Raksha (Amendment) Act, 1983
• Orissa Apartment Ownership Act, 1982
• Orissa Civil Court Act, 1984

List of Successful Candidates in Orissa Assembly Election in 1980

List of Participating Political Parties in Orissa Assembly Election in 1980