The electoral success of Ch. Trikoupis in 1881, the withdrawal from the political field of the 'great loser' Al. Koumoundouros and his death a year later, created a void in the opposition leadership. However, from the middle of 1883 Th. Diligiannis succeeded in constituting an anti-Trikoupian political front by rallying the majority of the deputies opposed to Trikoupis. Taking advantage of the discontent among the broadest social strata, which derived from the impact the European financial crisis had on the Greek economy as well as the crisis affecting domestic agricultural production, the evident decline of the export trade and the increase in taxes, Th. Diligiannis began a dynamic opposition tactic which proved effective. In the elections held in April 1885 Th. Diligiannis triumphed, electing 184 deputies against only 56 deputies of Trikoupis.

The slogan 'reduction of taxes', which appeared for the first time in Greek political life, became the banner of the opposition of Diligiannis. This chanting of slogans met with broad social acceptance, especially among the lower social strata, thus legitimizing its dynamic and extreme anti-governmental stance. In order to prevent the voting of new laws he incited his deputies to speak for many hours before the parliament usually on irrelevant matters. This tired the governmental deputies and made them leave the assembly room. Then he put in pleas concerning the quorum. The speech of a deputy from Arcadia on the etymology and meaning of the word 'bubble' is characteristic. From the spring of 1884 he inaugurated the tactic of withdrawing from the parliament, thus facilitating the voting of laws that he knew would provoke and increase anti-governmental discontent. In fact, when new tax and economic measures were being voted on in parliament, with no substantial parliamentary control, Th. Diligiannis organized protests outside parliament. This tactic made some deputies of Trikoupis go over to the opposition. The vote against the government was only a matter of time. It was incited in February 1885 to the humiliation of the country because of an incident concerning a British subject. The result of the elections was in favour of the dynamic anti-governmental tactic of Th. Diligiannis and he was strengthened and became able to act as a political bearer of the discontent provoked by the reforms of Trikoupisin, the economy and the administrative apparatus.