(i) The election gave rise to concept of alliances and coalitions. All the major noncommunist, non-Congress opposition parties formed an electoral alliance known as the Grand Alliance. The SSP, PSP, Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Swatantra Party and the Bharatiya Kranti Dal came together under one common umbrella. The ruling party had an alliance with the CPI.
(ii) After the 1967 elections, defection played an important role in the formation of governments in the state. Defection means elected representatives leave the party on whose symbol they were elected and join another party. After the 1967 general election, the breakaway Congress legislators played an important role in installing non-Congress governments in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This gave rise to the expression ‘Aya Ram, Gaya Ram’.
