# 1977 Kerala Legislative Assembly election

Elections were held on 19 March 1977 to elect members to the fifth Niyamasabha. The United Front, led by INC and CPI won plurality of seats and remained in power, with K. Karunakaran as the Chief Minister.

## History

Fourth Kerala Legislative Assembly, which was elected in 1970, completed its term by 1975, but it was extended on three occasions during the Emergency. Election of 1977 was the general election after the withdrawal of Emergency imposed on 26 June 1975.
This is the first election the 1974 delimitation of Assembly Constituencies was put to effect, which increased number of seat in the assembly from 133 to 140

## Results
### Party Wise Results

Party Wise Results :
| Alliance | Party | Seats |
| United Front 111 | Indian National Congress (INC) | 38 |
| United Front 111 | Communist Party of India (CPI) | 23 |
| United Front 111 | Kerala Congress (KEC) | 20 |
| United Front 111 | Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) | 13 |
| United Front 111 | Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) | 9 |
| United Front 111 | United Front Independents | 8 |
| Opposition 29 | Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) | 17 |
| Opposition 29 | Bharatiya Lok Dal (BLD) | 6 |
| Opposition 29 | All India Muslim League (Opposition) (AIML) | 3 |
| Opposition 29 | Kerala Congress (Pillai Group) (KCP) | 2 |
| Opposition 29 | LDF Independent (IND) | 1 (Kovalam) |
| Total | 140 |

### Constituency Wise Results

Detailed constituency-wise Results :
| Sl No. | Constituency Name | Category | Winner Candidates Name | Gender | Party | Vote | Runner-up Candidates Name | Gender | Party | vote |
| 1 | Manjeshwar | GEN | M. Ramappa | M | CPI | 25709 | H. Shankara Alva | M | BLD | 21100 |
| 2 | Kasaragod | GEN | T. A. Ibrahim | M | MUL | 29402 | B. M. Abdul Rehiman | M | MLO | 22619 |
| 3 | Udma | GEN | N. K. Balakrishnan | M | United Front IND | 31690 | K. G. Marar | M | BLD | 28145 |
| 4 | Hosdrug | (SC) | K. T. Kumaran | M | CPI | 34683 | M. Raghavan | M | CPM | 32578 |
| 5 | Trikaripur | GEN | P. Karunakaran | M | CPM | 38632 | P. T. Jose | M | KEC | 32512 |
| 6 | Irikkur | GEN | C. P. Govindan Nambiar | M | INC | 34889 | Sabastian Vettam | M | KCP | 27741 |
| 7 | Payyannur | GEN | N. Subramoniya Shenoy | M | CPM | 37256 | T. C. Bharathan | M | IND | 32209 |
| 8 | Taliparamba | GEN | M. V. Raghavan | M | CPM | 36829 | K. Narayanan Nambiar | M | IND | 35304 |
| 9 | Azhikode | GEN | Chatayan Govindan | M | CPM | 32548 | C. C. Abdul Halim | M | MUL | 26712 |
| 10 | kannur | GEN | P. Bhaskaran | M | BLD | 31391 | N. K. Kumaran | M | INC | 30701 |
| 11 | Edakkad | GEN | P. P. V. Moosa | M | MLO | 34266 | N. Ramakrishnan | M | INC | 30947 |
| 12 | thalassery | GEN | Pattiam Gopalan | M | CPM | 38419 | N. C. Mammootty | M | CPI | 29946 |
| 13 | Peringalam | GEN | P. R. Karup | M | INC | 33916 | V. K. Achuthan | M | BLD | 31958 |
| 14 | Kuthuparamba | GEN | Pinarayi Vijayan | M | CPM | 34465 | Abdulkadar | M | RSP | 30064 |
| 15 | Peravoor | GEN | K. P. Noorudeen | M | INC | 36449 | E. P. Krishnan Nambiar | M | CPM | 31465 |
| 16 | North Wynad | (ST) | M. V. Rajan | M | INC | 32589 | A. Gopalan | M | CPM | 24288 |
| 17 | Vatakara | GEN | K. Chandrasekharan | M | BLD | 37543 | P. Vijayan | M | INC | 34998 |
| 18 | Nadapuram | GEN | Kandalottu Kunhambu | M | CPI | 37391 | E. V. Kumaran | M | CPM | 30321 |
| 19 | Meppayur | GEN | Panarath Kunhimohammed | M | MUL | 40642 | A. V. Abdurahiman Haji | M | MLO | 34808 |
| 20 | Quilandy | GEN | E. Narayanan Nair | M | INC | 39581 | E. Rajagopalan Nair | M | BLD | 35074 |
| 21 | Perambra | GEN | K. C. Joseph | M | KEC | 35694 | V. V. Dakshinamoorthy | M | CPM | 34921 |
| 22 | Balusseri | GEN | P. K. Sankarankutty | M | BLD | 33960 | Puthoor Ramakrishnan Nair | M | INC | 32413 |
| 23 | Koduvally | GEN | E. Ahammad | M | MUL | 39241 | K. Moosakutty | M | CPM | 31206 |
| 24 | Calicut- I | GEN | N. Chandrasekhara Kurup | M | CPM | 37249 | P. V. Sankaranarayanan | M | INC | 35476 |
| 25 | Calicut- II | GEN | P. M. Aboobacker | M | MLO | 33531 | S. V. Usmankoya | M | MUL | 32433 |
| 26 | Beypore | GEN | N. P. Moideen | M | INC | 35374 | K. Chathunni Master | M | CPM | 33178 |
| 27 | Kunnamangalam | (SC) | K. P. Raman | M | MLO | 30289 | P. K. Kannan | M | CPI | 28601 |
| 28 | Thiruvambady | GEN | P. Cyriac John | M | INC | 29835 | E. T. Mohammed Basheer | M | MLO | 26454 |
| 29 | Kalpetta | GEN | K. G. Adiyodi | M | INC | 28713 | M. P. Veerandrakumar | M | BLD | 26608 |
| 30 | Sultan'S Battery | (ST) | K. Raghavan Master | M | INC | 29204 | Nidyachery Vasu | M | BLD | 24213 |
| 31 | Wandoor | (SC) | V. Eacharan | M | INC | 35369 | K. Gopalan | M | BLD | 22079 |
| 32 | Nilambur | GEN | Aryadan Muhammed | M | INC | 35410 | K. Saidali Kutty | M | CPM | 27695 |
| 33 | Manjeri | GEN | M. P. M Abdulla Kurikkal | M | MUL | 43626 | K. A. Quader | M | MLO | 16807 |
| 34 | Malappuram | GEN | C. H. Mohammed Koya | M | MUL | 39362 | T. K. S. A. Muthukoyathangal | M | MLO | 15724 |
| 35 | Kondotty | GEN | P. Seethi Haji | M | MUL | 41731 | M. C. Muhammed | M | MLO | 20159 |
| 36 | Tirurangadi | GEN | Avakader Kutty Naha | M | MUL | 40540 | T. P. Kunhalan Kutty | M | IND | 21479 |
| 37 | Tanur | GEN | U. A. Beeran | M | MUL | 42886 | C. M. Kutty | M | MLO | 12158 |
| 38 | Tirur | GEN | P. T. Kunhimuhammed ( Kunhukutty Hajee ) | M | MUL | 41675 | K. Moideen Kutty Haji ( K. Bava Haji ) | M | MLO | 26127 |
| 39 | Ponnani | GEN | M. P. Gangadharan | M | INC | 38083 | E. K. Imbichi Bava | M | CPM | 28334 |
| 40 | Kuttippuram | GEN | Chakeri Ahmedkutty | M | MUL | 36367 | K. Moidu | M | MLO | 12023 |
| 41 | Mankada | GEN | Korambayil Ahammed Haji | M | MUL | 33597 | Cherukoya Thangal | M | MLO | 26207 |
| 42 | Perinthalmanna | GEN | K. K. S. Thangal | M | MUL | 32356 | Paloli Muhammed Kutty | M | CPM | 24751 |
| 43 | Thrithala | GEN | K. Sankaranarayanan | M | INC | 34012 | P. P. Krishnan | M | CPM | 24288 |
| 44 | Pattambi | GEN | E. P. Gopalan | M | CPI | 30659 | Devaki Warrier | F | CPM | 26072 |
| 45 | Ottapalam | GEN | P. Balan | M | INC | 30937 | K. P. Unni | M | CPM | 24120 |
| 46 | Sreekrishnapuram | GEN | K. Sukumaranunni | M | INC | 32071 | C. Govinda Panicker | M | CPM | 28136 |
| 47 | Mannarkkad | GEN | A. N. Yusuff | M | CPI | 30563 | C. S. Gangadharan | M | CPM | 23854 |
| 48 | Malampuzha | GEN | P. V. Kunhikannan | M | CPM | 27122 | C. M. Chandrasekharan | M | RSP | 22696 |
| 49 | Palghat | GEN | C. M. Sundaram | M | United Front IND | 30160 | R. Krishnan | M | CPM | 27357 |
| 50 | Chittur | GEN | P. Sankar | M | CPI | 28698 | K. A. Sivarama Bharathy | M | BLD | 21121 |
| 51 | Kollengode | GEN | C. Vasudeva Menon | M | CPM | 29303 | K. V. Narayanan | M | CPI | 28865 |
| 52 | Coyalmannam | (SC) | M. K. Krishnan | M | CPM | 34798 | N. Subbayyan | M | INC | 29570 |
| 53 | Alathur | GEN | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | M | CPM | 31424 | V. S. Vijayaraghavan | M | INC | 29425 |
| 54 | Chelakara | (SC) | K. K. Balakrishnan | M | INC | 34460 | K. S. Sankaran | M | CPM | 24525 |
| 55 | Wadakkanchery | GEN | K. S. Narayanan Namboodiri | M | INC | 37783 | A. S. N. Nambisan | M | CPM | 25725 |
| 56 | Kunnamkulam | GEN | K. P. Viswanathan | M | INC | 35230 | T. K. Krishnan | M | CPM | 29889 |
| 57 | Cherpu | GEN | K. P. Prabhakaran | M | CPI | 33526 | I. M. Velayudhan | M | IND | 29007 |
| 58 | Trichur | GEN | K. J. George | M | BLD | 32335 | P. A. Antony | M | INC | 28185 |
| 59 | Ollur | GEN | P. R. Francis | M | INC | 30931 | Adv. P. K. Asokan | M | CPM | 29845 |
| 60 | Kodakara | GEN | Lonappan Nambadan | M | KEC | 30569 | T. P. Sitaraman | M | BLD | 29119 |
| 61 | Chalakudi | GEN | P. K. Ittoop | M | KCP | 33581 | P. P. George | M | INC | 25968 |
| 62 | Mala | GEN | K. Karunakaran | M | INC | 34699 | Paul Kokkat | M | CPM | 25233 |
| 63 | Irinjalakuda | GEN | Sidharthan Kattungal | M | INC | 33377 | John Manjooran | M | IND | 31243 |
| 64 | Manalur | GEN | N. I. Devassykutty | M | INC | 32314 | M. G. Jayachandran | M | IND | 24986 |
| 65 | Guruvayoor | GEN | B. V. Seethi Thangal | M | MUL | 34063 | V. M. Sulaiman | M | MLO | 20071 |
| 66 | Nattika | GEN | P. K. Gopalakrishnan | M | CPI | 32917 | V. K. Gopinathan | M | BLD | 24711 |
| 67 | Kodungallur | GEN | V. K. Rajan | M | CPI | 32159 | P. V. Abdul Kader | M | IND | 24048 |
| 68 | Ankamali | GEN | A. P. Kurian | M | CPM | 36261 | P. P. Thankachan | M | INC | 35700 |
| 69 | Vadakkekara | GEN | T. K. Abdu | M | CPM | 30498 | K. C. Mathew | M | CPI | 29541 |
| 70 | Parur | GEN | Xavier Arakkal | M | INC | 29644 | Varkey Painandar | M | IND | 24733 |
| 71 | Narakkal | (SC) | T. A. Paraman | M | RSP | 30985 | S. Vasu | M | CPM | 28795 |
| 72 | Ernakulam | GEN | A. L. Jacob | M | INC | 33367 | Alexander Parambithara | M | BLD | 31643 |
| 73 | Mattancherry | GEN | K. J. Harschel | M | BLD | 29543 | A. A. Kochunny | M | INC | 25348 |
| 74 | Palluruthy | GEN | Eapen Varghese | M | KEC | 32479 | M. M. Lawrence | M | CPM | 30638 |
| 75 | Thrippunithura | GEN | T. K. Ramakrishnan | M | CPM | 35754 | K. M. Ramsakunju | M | MUL | 30009 |
| 76 | Alwaye | GEN | T. H. Musthafa | M | INC | 37017 | M. P. M. Japherkhan | M | MLO | 36259 |
| 77 | Perumbavoor | GEN | P. R. Sivan | M | CPM | 34133 | P. I. Poulose | M | INC | 32386 |
| 78 | Kunnathunad | GEN | P. R. Esthose | M | CPM | 31126 | Paul P. Mani | M | INC | 28436 |
| 79 | Piravom | GEN | T. M. Jacob | M | KEC | 35598 | Alunkal Devassy | M | BLD | 29868 |
| 80 | Muvattupuzha | GEN | P. C. Joseph | M | KEC | 32994 | Sunny Mannathukaran | M | KCP | 28349 |
| 81 | Kothamangalam | GEN | M. V. Mani | M | KEC | 34523 | M. E. Kuriakose | M | KCP | 31432 |
| 82 | Thodupuzha | GEN | P. J. Joseph | M | KEC | 38294 | A. C. Chacko | M | KCP | 24386 |
| 83 | Devicolam | (SC) | Kittappanarayanaswamy | M | INC | 27348 | G. Varadan | M | CPM | 18949 |
| 84 | Idukki | GEN | V. T. Sebastian | M | KEC | 23244 | John Thomas Mooleparambil | M | IND | 14071 |
| 85 | Udumbanchola | GEN | Thomas Joseph | M | KEC | 29083 | M. Ginadevan | M | CPM | 20843 |
| 86 | Peermade | GEN | C. A. Kuriyan | M | CPI | 27360 | K. S. Krishnan | M | CPM | 20013 |
| 87 | Kanjirappally | GEN | K. V. Kurian | M | KEC | 32207 | Eapen Jacob | M | KCP | 28227 |
| 88 | Vazhoor | GEN | K. Narayana Kurup | M | KEC | 37391 | K. M. Sadasivan Nair | M | CPM | 17356 |
| 89 | Changanacherry | GEN | Joseph Chacko | M | KEC | 31960 | Mathew Mullakupadem | M | KCP | 19481 |
| 90 | Kottayam | GEN | P. P. George | M | CPI | 35683 | M. Thomas | M | CPM | 32107 |
| 91 | Ettumanoor | GEN | P. B. R. Pillai | M | BLD | 23795 | M. C. Abraham | M | INC | 23553 |
| 92 | Puthuppally | GEN | Oommen Chandy | M | INC | 40376 | P. C. Cherian | M | BLD | 24466 |
| 93 | Poonjar | GEN | V. J. Joseph | M | KEC | 34770 | P. I. Devasia | M | KCP | 21065 |
| 94 | Palai | GEN | K. M. Mani | M | KEC | 39664 | N. C. Joseph | M | IND | 24807 |
| 95 | Kaduthuruthy | GEN | O. Lukose | M | KEC | 38403 | K. K. Joseph | M | CPM | 25652 |
| 96 | Vaikom | (SC) | M. K. Kesavan | M | CPI | 39711 | K. G. Bhaskaran | M | CPM | 24770 |
| 97 | Aroor | GEN | P. S. Sreenivasan | M | CPI | 39643 | K. R. Gouri | F | CPM | 30048 |
| 98 | Sherthala | GEN | M. K. Raghavan | M | INC | 37767 | N. P. Thandar | M | CPM | 26007 |
| 99 | Mararikulam | GEN | A. V. Thamarakshan | M | RSP | 39094 | P. K. Chandrandan | M | CPM | 34748 |
| 100 | Alleppey | GEN | P. K. Vasudevan Nair | M | CPI | 35301 | Joseph Matahn | M | BLD | 25631 |
| 101 | Ambalapuzha | GEN | K. K. Kumara Pillai | M | RSP | 32056 | V. S. Achuthanandan | M | CPM | 26471 |
| 102 | Kuttanad | GEN | Eappen Kandakudy | M | KEC | 34161 | K.P. Joseph | M | CPM | 27014 |
| 103 | Haripad | GEN | G.P. Mangalathu Madaom | M | United Front IND | 33037 | C.B.C. Warrier | M | CPM | 30118 |
| 104 | Kayamkulam | GEN | Thundathie Kunjukrishna Pillai | M | INC | 29742 | P.A. Haris P.K. Kunju | M | BLD | 24655 |
| 105 | Thiruvalla | GEN | E. John Jacob | M | KEC | 31548 | John Jacob Vallakkalil | M | KCP | 24573 |
| 106 | Kallooppara | GEN | T.S. John | M | KEC | 33967 | E.K. Kuriakose | M | KCP | 17173 |
| 107 | Aranmula | GEN | M.K. Hemachandran | M | INC | 35482 | P.N. Chandrasenan | M | IND | 21127 |
| 108 | Chengannur | GEN | Thakappan Pillai | M | United Front IND | 33909 | K.R. Saraswathi Amma | F | KCP | 27356 |
| 109 | Mavelikara | GEN | Bhaskaran Nair | M | United front IND | 35103 | S. Govinda Kurup | M | CPM | 26310 |
| 110 | Pandalam | (SC) | Damodaran Kalassery | M | INC | 36938 | V. Kesavan | M | CPM | 31764 |
| 111 | Ranni | GEN | K.A. Mathew | M | KEC | 32530 | F. Thomas Kuttikayam | M | KCP | 23235 |
| 112 | Pathanamthitta | GEN | George Mathew | M | KEC | 34853 | K.K. Nair | M | IND | 30686 |
| 113 | Konni | GEN | P.J. Thomas | M | INC | 30714 | R.C. Unnithan | M | CPM | 30277 |
| 114 | Pathanapuram | GEN | E.K. Pillai | M | CPI | 30927 | A. George | M | KCP | 30136 |
| 115 | Punalur | GEN | P.K. Sreenjvasan | M | CPI | 33870 | V. Bharathan | M | CPM | 30668 |
| 116 | Chadayamangalam | GEN | Chandrasekharan Nair | M | CPI | 31906 | N. Sundaresan | M | CPM | 20219 |
| 117 | Kottarakkara | GEN | R. Balakrishan Pillai | M | KCP | 37253 | Kottara Gopalkrishan | M | INC | 23098 |
| 118 | Neduvathur | (SC) | Bhargavi Thankappan | F | CPI | 33941 | Vettikavala Kochukunju | M | BLD | 22019 |
| 119 | Adoor | GEN | Thennala Balakrishna Pillai | M | INC | 31214 | Mathew Muthalali | M | KCP | 23826 |
| 120 | Kunnathur | (SC) | Kallada Narayanan | M | RSP | 43347 | C.K. Thankappan | M | CPM | 25103 |
| 121 | Karunagappally | GEN | P. M. Sheriff | M | CPI | 29739 | C.P. Karunnakaran Pillai | M | CPM | 24255 |
| 122 | Chavara | GEN | Baby John | M | RSP | 36892 | A. Noorundin Kunju | M | IND | 17583 |
| 123 | Kundara | GEN | A. A. Rahim | M | INC | 29758 | V. V. Joseph | M | IND | 29362 |
| 124 | Quilon | GEN | Thyagarajan | M | RSP | 37065 | N. Padmalochanan | M | CPM | 24049 |
| 125 | Eravipuram | GEN | R. S. Unni | M | RSP | 39119 | R. M. Parameswaran | M | IND | 22666 |
| 126 | Chathanoor | GEN | J. Chitharanjan | M | CPI | 38787 | Varinja Vasu Pillai | M | BLD | 20016 |
| 127 | Varkala | GEN | T. A. Majeed | M | CPI | 25210 | Shamsuddin | M | BLD | 18991 |
| 128 | Attingal | GEN | Vakkam Purushothaman | M | INC | 32452 | Varkala Radhakrishnan | M | CPM | 23892 |
| 129 | Kilimanoor | (SC) | P. K. Chathan Master | M | CPI | 32242 | C. K. Balakrishnan | M | CPM | 31412 |
| 130 | Vamanapuram | GEN | N. Vasudevan Pillai | M | CPM | 31463 | M. Kunju Krishnan Pillai | M | INC | 29071 |
| 131 | Ariyanad | GEN | K. C. Vamadevan | M | RSP | 26100 | Thakidi Krishanan Nair | M | BLD | 18908 |
| 132 | Nedumangad | GEN | Kaniapuram Ramachandran Nair | M | CPI | 34731 | R. Sundaresan Nair | M | IND | 23992 |
| 133 | Kazhakuttam | GEN | Thlaekunnil Basheer | M | INC | 37014 | A. Essuddin | M | MLO | 22637 |
| 134 | Trivandrum North | GEN | K. Raveendran Nair | M | United Front IND | 31971 | S. Dharmarajan | M | CPM | 25806 |
| 135 | Trivandrum West | GEN | K. Pankajakshan | M | RSP | 31224 | S.M. Noohu | M | BLD | 20301 |
| 136 | Trivandrum East | GEN | P. Narayanan Nair | M | United Front IND | 33405 | J. Saradamma | F | CPM | 22802 |
| 137 | Nemom | GEN | S. Varadarajan Nair | M | INC | 32063 | Pallichal Sadasivan | M | CPM | 25142 |
| 138 | Kovalam | GEN | A. Neellalohithadasan Nadar | M | Left IND | 32549 | N. Sakthan | M | KEC | 28435 |
| 139 | Neyyattinkara | GEN | R. Sundaresan Nair | M | United Front IND | 30372 | R. Parameswaran | M | CPM | 24678 |
| 140 | Parassala | GEN | M. Kunjukrishnan Nadar | M | INC | 34485 | M. Sathyanesan | M | CPM | 21084 |

### By-Elections

| S.No. | Constituency | Type | Year | Winning Candidate | Party | Votes | Runner-up Candidate | Party | Votes | Winning Party | Majority |
| 133 | Kazhakootam | GEN | 1977 | A.K. Antony | INC | 38463 | P. Sreedharan Nair | CPM- Ind. | 29794 | INC | 8669 |
| 136 | Trivandrum East | GEN | 1978 | K.Anirudhan | CPM | 23891 | P.K.Pillai | IND | 22106 | CPM | 1785 |
| 2 | Kasaragod | GEN | 1979 | B. M. A. Rahiman | MLO | 22419 | C. T. A. Ali | MUL | 21269 | MLO | 1150 |
| 12 | Tellicherry | GEN | 1979 | M.V.Rajagopalan | CPM | 44457 | K.Sreedharan | CPI | 23799 | CPM | 20658 |
| 105 | Thiruvalla | GEN | 1979 | P.C.T.Painummoottil | JNP | 30552 | J.J.Vallakkalil | KEC | 24863 | JNP | 5689 |
| 140 | Parassala | GEN | 1979 | M.Sahyanesan | CPM | 27986 | M. S. Nadar | INC(I) | 20657 | CPM | 7329 |

### Formation of Ministry

On 25 March, K. Karunakaran of Congress sworn as Chief Minister. However, Karunakaran had to resign within a month over the controversial death of Left-leaning engineering student Rajan, who was tortured during the Emergency when he was the Home Minister. Then 15 member ministry under the leadership of A.K. Antony assumed office on 27 April 1977. When Congress split in January 1978, Karunakaran joined the new Indira Congress, and A K Antony continued with the 'main' Congress, which was variously known as Congress (Urs), Congress (Socialist). Antony resigned as Chief Minister in late 1978 when his Congress faction decided to support Indira Gandhi in Chickmagalur bye-election. CPI and Congress also drifted apart. Though the ruling alliance had won nearly 80% seats in the election, it became unstable, and the assembly lasted less than 3 years.
K. Karunakaran's ministry holds the record for ministry which served the shortest term