The Janata Party made the 1977 election into a referendum on the Emergency.

Background:
The Emergency was a period of time in Indian history from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency, suspending civil liberties, and granting herself extraordinary powers. It was a controversial period characterized by widespread censorship, arrests, and human rights abuses.

1. Context of the 1977 election:
- The 1977 election was the first general election held after the end of the Emergency.
- It was a crucial election as it provided an opportunity for the Indian electorate to express their opinion on the Emergency and the rule of the Congress party led by Indira Gandhi.
- The opposition parties, including the Janata Party, saw this election as an opportunity to challenge the Congress party's dictatorial rule and restore democracy in India.

2. Formation of the Janata Party:
- The Janata Party was formed as a coalition of various opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the Bharatiya Lok Dal, and the Socialist Party.
- The party aimed to unite different factions and ideologies under a common platform to challenge the Congress party's dominance.

3. Campaigning against the Emergency:
- The Janata Party campaigned extensively against the Emergency and the excesses committed during that period.
- They highlighted the curtailment of civil liberties, the suppression of dissent, and the abuse of power under the Congress regime.
- The party sought to mobilize public opinion by drawing attention to the atrocities committed during the Emergency, such as forced sterilizations, media censorship, and political arrests.

4. Public sentiment and the referendum:
- The Janata Party's campaign effectively tapped into the public sentiment against the Emergency and the Congress party's autocratic rule.
- The public, disillusioned with the dictatorial tendencies of the Congress, saw the 1977 election as an opportunity to voice their opposition to the Emergency and bring about a change in government.
- The Janata Party successfully portrayed the election as a referendum on the Emergency, urging voters to reject the Congress party and its authoritarian regime.

Conclusion:
The Janata Party's focus on the Emergency during the 1977 election campaign, along with the widespread public sentiment against the Congress party's rule, made the election a de facto referendum on the Emergency. The party's victory in the election marked a significant turning point in Indian politics, as it ended the Congress party's uninterrupted rule and brought about the formation of a non-Congress government at the national level.