In January 1980, the DMK-Congress (I) combine in Tamil Nadu swept the Lok Sabha polls. The ruling AIADMK headed by actor-politician M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) faced a rout.
Even before Indira Gandhi could assume office of the Prime Minister for a fourth time, then DMK president M. Karunanidhi declared the election results should be considered as a clear verdict against the AIADMK government. The results, according to him, were an expression of “no trust” by the people and was more valuable than a no confidence motion passed in the Assembly. Karunanidhi told journalists, he would not demand the resignation of the MGR Ministry but the government must realise the signification of the poll verdict and act on it.
