144. Surathkal

Indian National Congress held the seat; the winning margin narrowed from 50.0% to 28.4%.

Boundaries were redrawn between 1972 and 1978 — the comparison is matched by name and is indicative only.

• Won on a lower shareIts own vote share fell 5.7% — it held because the rest of the vote was more divided.
• New challengerJanata Party (JNP) finished second with 30.3% — it did not contest here in 1972.
• Vote consolidatedThe top two candidates took 88.9% of the vote between them, up from 78.6% — a tighter two-way contest.

Written from the constituency figures by a fixed set of rules — no language model.