[1][2] After the election of 1980, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) formed a government led by E. K. Nayanar.

By 20 October 1981, LDF lost their majority in the Assembly when the Congress (A), the Kerala Congress (M) and the Janatha (Gopalan) withdrew support for the government to join the UDF.

E.K.Nayanar recommended to the Governor to dissolve the assembly and impose President's rule on 21 October 1981 which led to a mid-term election in 1982.

[3][4] The election of 1982 has historic significance, as it is the first time Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) were used in the country.

The case was moved to the Supreme Court, which ordered re-polling as those 50 booths had no provision in the electoral law for use of voting machines.