NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi resigned on Wednesday apparently clearing the way for an opposition government, after his ruling party suffered its second most humiliating defeat in four decades in national elections.
Gandhi’s resignation, which he personally delivered to the president was seen by several analysts as a strong indication that Gandhi’s ruling party had resigned itself to a new role in the opposition for only the second time in four decades.
With almost all results now counted in the parliamentary elections, Gandhi’s party had won just 190 seats in the 543 member parliament, but none of the three major opposition blocks had secured a majority either.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 1, 1989
