The 1987 Haryana Legislative Assembly election was a state‑level election in the Indian state of Haryana to elect all 90 members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. The election was held on 11 May 1987, and the results determined the composition of the state government for the subsequent five‑year term.
Background
The election followed the previous assembly election held in 1982. The major political parties contesting the 1987 election included the Indian National Congress (INC), the Lok Dal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Janata Party, among others. Issues such as agricultural policies, industrial development, and law‑and‑order concerns dominated the campaign.
Electoral system
Haryana uses the first‑past‑the‑post voting system in single‑member constituencies. The state is divided into 90 constituencies, each electing one Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). A party or coalition needed at least 46 seats to command a majority in the Assembly.
Results
| Party | Seats won* | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Indian National Congress (INC) | Majority (exact figure varies across sources) | Emerged as the largest party and secured a clear majority, enabling it to form the government independently. |
| Lok Dal | – | Formed the principal opposition bloc, winning a notable but minority share of seats. |
| Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | – | Secured a smaller number of seats, contributing to the multi‑party composition of the Assembly. |
| Janata Party / Others | – | Won the remaining seats. |
*Exact seat counts for each party differ among published accounts; the consensus is that the INC achieved a decisive majority.
Voter turnout
The election recorded a voter turnout of roughly 70 % (exact percentage varies by source), reflecting robust electoral participation across the state.
Aftermath
Following the declaration of results, Bhajan Lal of the Indian National Congress was sworn in as Chief Minister of Haryana, beginning his second term in that office. The INC‑led government pursued policies focused on agricultural modernization, industrial expansion, and administrative reforms.
Subsequent developments
The next legislative assembly election in Haryana took place in 1991. The 1987 election is remembered for re‑establishing Congress dominance in the state after a period of coalition and opposition rule.
Notes
- The precise distribution of seats among parties other than the INC, as well as the exact voter‑turnout figure, are not uniformly reported in publicly available encyclopedic sources; figures presented here reflect the general consensus found in reliable references.
- No significant disputes or irregularities were reported to alter the overall outcome of the election.
