Rajiv Gandhi Biography and Timeline

Prime Minister of India

Rajiv Gandhi becomes Prime Minister following the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

Role range: 1984-1989

Bhopal Disaster

A toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal kills thousands and causes long-term health damage.

Eighth General Election

Congress wins a record parliamentary majority in the general election held after Indira Gandhi's assassination.

Role range: 1984-1989

Punjab Accord

Rajiv Gandhi and Harchand Singh Longowal sign an accord intended to address major political grievances in Punjab.

Role range: 1984-1989

Assam Accord

Rajiv Gandhi's government signs the Assam Accord with leaders of the Assam agitation.

Role range: 1984-1989

Fifty-second Amendment

The Fifty-second Amendment introduces anti-defection provisions for members of Parliament and state legislatures.

Role range: 1984-1989

Mizoram Accord

The government signs the Mizoram Peace Accord, helping end a long-running insurgency in the northeast.

Role range: 1984-1989

Consumer Protection Act

Parliament enacts the Consumer Protection Act, creating new mechanisms for consumer rights and grievance redress.

Role range: 1984-1989

President's Rule in Punjab

The central government imposes President's Rule in Punjab amid escalating militancy and political instability.

Role range: 1984-1991

Poomalai

Rajiv Gandhi's government orders Operation Poomalai, an Indian Air Force airdrop over Jaffna during the Sri Lankan civil conflict.

Role range: 1984-1991

Colombo Peace Accord

Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene sign the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord in Colombo.

Role range: 1984-1991

Indo-Sri Lanka Accord

Rajiv Gandhi signs the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord with President J.R. Jayewardene.

Role range: 1984-1991

Indo-Sri Lanka Accord

Rajiv Gandhi signs the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, leading to deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka.

Role range: 1983-2009 – 1984-1989

Indian Peace Keeping Force

India deploys the Indian Peace Keeping Force to Sri Lanka under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.

Role range: 1984-1991

Kashmir State Election

Controversy over the Jammu and Kashmir state election contributes to political alienation and later insurgency.

Role range: 1980-1984

Peacekeeping in Sri Lanka

Rajiv Gandhi's government deploys Indian forces to support implementation of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.

Role range: 1984-1991

Operation Cactus

India rapidly deploys military forces to the Maldives to help defeat an attempted coup.

Role range: 1984-1989

China Visit

Rajiv Gandhi visits China, helping restore high-level political dialogue after decades of strained relations.

Role range: 1984-1989

Voting Age Reduced

The Sixty-first Amendment lowers the voting age for Lok Sabha and state assembly elections from 21 to 18.

Role range: 1984-1991

Ninth General Election

The ninth general election ends Congress's majority and leads to the formation of a National Front government.

Role range: 1984-1989

Bofors Affair

Allegations concerning the Bofors artillery contract damage Rajiv Gandhi's government and become a major political controversy.

Role range: 1984-1991

Election

Congress loses its parliamentary majority in the 1989 general election and Rajiv Gandhi leaves office.

Role range: 1984-1991

Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a suicide bomber during an election campaign at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

Death of Rajiv Gandhi

Death of Rajiv Gandhi

Role range: 1984-1989