In several states of northern India – Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Haryana – the Congress won, but with thin majorities, which allowed the idea of the Samyukt Vidhayak Dal (SVD), or United Legislators’ Party, to take root. This was a combination of the Jana Sangh, the Swatantra Party and the socialists, critically aided by breakaway Congress legislators, who came together just to grab power.
