Happy 77th Republic Day: How We Choose - Tracing the Heartbeat of the Indian Republic Through 15 Historic Polls
- Devyani
- 1 day ago
- 4 minutes read
fingers, elephant rides, sympathy waves, and Modi tsunamis: the elections that turned India into the world's rowdiest democracy.
What if I told you the biggest show on earth started with camels lugging ballot boxes through Rajasthan dunes? That ink mark on your finger, that familiar thrill on polling day, it all began shaky, post-partition, when India bet everything on votes. Now, as Independence Day buzz builds toward the 77th Republic Day parade, let's stroll through fifteen polls that flipped the script, one upset at a time.
1951-52: Camels and Nehru's Sweep
Seventeen crore voters, most illiterate, spread across a newborn nation still licking partition wounds. Sukumar Sen's team hauled metal boxes on elephants, camels, even boats to the boondocks; it took four months, cost a fortune, but Congress under Nehru grabbed 364 seats. Not just a poll. Proof we could govern ourselves.
1967: Regional Rebels Rise
During the tense general election of 1967, India witnessed an incident that went on to become an international scandal and political sensation. Svetlana Alliluyeva,the only daughter of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, defected to the US using Delhi as her gateway to freedom.A 🧵1/21 pic.twitter.com/2bN4eOlkmD
— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) October 21, 2022
(@Paperclip_In/X)
Congress grip loosened. DMK toppled bosses in Tamil Nadu, Swatantra chipped away in Gujarat; anti-incumbency whispered loudly. Voters tested waters beyond the big party.
1977: Emergency's Payback
Result of 1977 Loksabha Elections pic.twitter.com/UlxZPG8vJi
— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) June 4, 2024
(@IndiaHistorypic/X)
Twenty-one months of jailings, press gags. Polls called, the nation roared back. The Janata coalition smashed Indira's crew.
1980: Indira's Revenge
1980 :: Loksabha Election Results Being Displayed In Real Time In Bombay pic.twitter.com/W3lfrxELlm
— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) March 25, 2020
(@IndiaHistoryPic/X)
Janata bickered itself dead. Indira, the iron lady image polished, swept back in.
1984: Rajiv's Grief-Fueled Triumph
1984 :: Poster of Amitabh Bachchan Election Campaign In Allahabad During Loksabha Elections pic.twitter.com/XK7YKPHjnD
— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) March 7, 2024
(@IndiaHistorypic/X)
(@IndiaHistorypic/X)
Indira Gandhi was shot. Riots scarred. Rajiv, the techy son, clinched 414 seats; Amitabh stumped for him in Allahabad.
1989: Mandal and Mandir Ignite
VP Singh—Indian PM I respect most—was born today (1931)
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) June 25, 2025
Singh’s implementation of Mandal Commission Report providing 27% OBC reservation was a bold, transformative move towards social justice
India needs non-BJP, non-Congress politics like Singh’s to actualize our Constitution pic.twitter.com/UctT8pYwtE
(@ChetanAhimsa/X)
Bofors bit Rajiv. VP Singh rode OBC quotas, Ayodhya simmered. Coalitions crashed the party.
1991: Liberalisation's Door-Kick
On this day in 1991,
— Sheshapatangi1 ಪ್ರಭಾ ಮಗ ಈ ಅಲೆಮಾರಿ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರಿ🇮🇳 (@sheshapatangi1) June 21, 2022
P. V. Narasimha Rao was sworn in as the ninth Prime Minister of India.
PVNR inherited India which was on verge of economic, social and territorial disaster
We were on verge on bankruptcy as we had to pledge gold to pay for oil.
We were a hugely divided pic.twitter.com/6sVTY7mEPj
(@sheshapatangi1/X)
Rajiv Gandhi was killed. Rao-Manmohan unlocked the economy; scooter lines vanished.
Late 90s: Hung Parliaments Galore
LONG THREAD on 1999 Motion of Confidence:
— Jijñāsu जिज्ञासु ஆர்வமாக (@vyomologist) April 17, 2022
Exactly 23 years ago, the NDA govt led by PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee faced a confidence motion in the Lok Sabha.
A thread diving deep into the EXTRAORDINARY events of 17 April 1999 that forever changed Indian politics. /1 pic.twitter.com/deIL6QqzOy
(@vyomologist/X)
Vajpayee's thirteen-day PM gig. Coalitions stumbled, found "dharma."
2004: Shining Campaign Sinks
Glossy ads ignored villages. UPA sneaked victory.
2009: Manmohan's Encore
Crisis raging. Voters picked steady hands.
2014: Social Media Storm
On this day in 2014, #NarendraModi was sworn in as the 15th Prime Minister of India. The #BJP secured a majority in the #LokSabha elections, securing 282 seats out of 543. It was the first single-party majority win since 1984. #PMModi #Politics #DayInHistory #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/lfvAIbpnxK
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) May 26, 2025
(@TheStatesmanLtd/X)
Modi rallies, Achhe Din chants. BJP's solo majority first since '84.
2019: Balakot Boost
Strikes, schemes. Bigger win defied odds 2024: Regional Roar Returns
India election results 2024 live: Modi landslide fails to materialise as BJP set to lose outright majority
— Atique Ur Rehman (@AtiqueUR_Rehman) June 4, 2024
Modi still set to return for historic third term as prime minister, but will be forced to rely on alliance partners to form government
Namita Singh#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/W6d5GD560d
(@AtiqUR_Rehman/X)
BJP short. NDA patched up. INDIA punched hard. Rallies crackle with sweat, samosa grease; manifestos smell new off press.
These votes bent India, broke molds, kept democracy kicking. Voters, the unsung stars, steer this wild ride. Jai Hind, and a Happy 77th Republic Day!
