Vacant President's rule Janaki Ballabh Patnaik[1] Indian National Congress (I) Elections to the 8th Odisha Legislative Assembly were held 1980.

The elections were held for 147 constituencies, of which 22 were reserved for Scheduled Castes, 34 for Scheduled Tribes and 91 unreserved.

There are eight national parties CPI, INC(I), INC(U), BJP, JNP, CPM, JNP(SC) and JNP(JP), Two stateparties FBL and RSP two registered unrecognised party JKD and SUC and some Independent Politiciantook part in this assembly election.

Indian National Congress (I)[2] emerged as the winner by winning 118[3] seats.

Janaki Ballabh Patnaik become the Chief Minister and Sarat Deb become the Leader of Opposition in the 8th Orissa Assembly.