INC(O) led governments in Bihar under Bhola Paswan Shastri, Karnataka under Veerendra Patil, and in Gujarat under Hitendra K Desai.

It was also a part of the Janata Morcha that ruled Gujarat under Babubhai J. Patel from 1975–1976 during the emergency era.

Indira wanted to use a populist agenda in order to mobilise popular support for the party.

The regional party elites, who formed the INC(O), stood for a more right-wing agenda, and distrusted Soviet help.

Fresh Elections were called in 1980 and Indira's Indian National congress (R) swept the country and defeated the Janata party.