1980 Thiruvananthapuram LS poll results: A look back at Kerala's most epic election upset

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Major election upsets have enthralled the populace and media circles, and sometimes evoked shock in many political experts in Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram is one such Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala that has witnessed many a coup in the past years.

Malayalam's beloved poet ONV Kurup, CPI’s virtuous figure K. V. Surendranath and popular writer/orator Kaniyapuram Ramachandran have all tasted defeat in the soil of Thiruvananthapuram in past years.

The 1980 election result was another such case that shocked everyone. M N Govindan Nair, the supreme of the communist party, who sowed seeds of red revolution into Malayali minds suffered a humiliating defeat much to the surprise and agony of many.

MN conceded defeat to A. Neelalohithadasan Nadar, a 33-year-old who contested on a Congress ticket. The defeat was not by a small margin but with a difference of over one lakh votes!

M. N. Govindan Nair, who was in charge of agriculture, transport, electricity and housing departments in Chelat Achutha Menon’s cabinet from 1970 to 77, contested from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency for the first time in 1977.

MN's victory was by a majority of 69,822 votes against Bharatiya Lok Dal Party's P. Vishwabharan. Within two years after his remarkable win, another LS poll reached Thiruvananthapuram and MN Govindan Nair saw the biggest defeat in his political career.

Neelalohitadasan Nadar contested in the 1980 elections after winning the 1977 assembly elections from the Kovalam constituency and becoming a member of CH Muhammad Koya's cabinet.

A. Neelalohithadasan Nadar (Con) - 2,73,818

MN Govindan Nair (CPI) - 1,66,761