ABSTRACT
All parties fell short of a majority, the distribution of parliamentary seats and the juxtaposition of power among the various parties changed dramatically. Despite the realization that the Tenth General Election would be pivotal, no one could have imagined the horrifying event that would forever leave its imprint on the course Indian political history would subsequently follow. The party has radically altered the universe of discourse over the meaning of the secular state in India. The debate will continue as to whether the Nehrus constituted a 'dynasty' in the technical sense. Despite the assassination, and a brief postponement due to it, the Tenth General Election did take place, of course. Some had predicted that a sympathy wave in the aftermath of Rajiv Gandhi's death might have an effect similar to that which allegedly helped sweep Rajiv to power in 1984 following his mother's assassination.
