By then, the LCL's grip on power had become increasingly tenuous; due to being almost entirely dependent on rural support, the LCL usually won just enough seats to govern alone, and in fact it never held more than 23 seats during Playford's tenure. By the time the writs were dropped for the election, the LCL only had a bare majority of 20 seats, and had also lost seats at every election since 1950.
As time went on, the LCL's hold on power became increasingly precarious; because it relied almost exclusively on rural support, the LCL usually managed to secure just enough votes to govern alone, and in fact it never held more than 23 seats during Playford's leadership. By the time the election was scheduled, the LCL had only a narrow majority of 20 seats, and had also lost seats at every election since 1950.