Despite the Emergency, Congress rule was fragmented in the

1970s repeatedly by chief ministers who were either removed or had revolted before quitting.

The Congress leaders of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna's ilk left the party during the Emergency, paving way for President's rule.

Another Congress doyen Kamlapati Tripathi had to quit on the issue of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) revolt in the 70s.

Congress took over the reins in 1980 after the Janata Party's brief spell in power from 1977 to 1980, with leaders of the stature of V P Singh and N D Tiwari at the helm.

But political instability continued to dog the state and the Janata Dal won in 1989.

It was the advent of casteist and communal politics in the wake of the Mandal Commission and Ayodhya movement which saw political turmoil at its peak and violence in the seat of power in the Vidhan Sabha.

It was a period of splits, mass defections, hung house, President's rule, mid-term elections and ruling parties flipping chief ministers to quell dissent.

This period saw almost all major parties somehow managing to taste fruits of power, even if for brief spells, while Congress's popularity started waning.

The new non-Congress leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati and Rajnath Singh among others emerged in the state and they gradually carved out a niche at the national level.

Mayawati's victory in 2007 came not just as a surprise for all those who had got used to political instability in the state but also political pundits who had predicted fractured mandate.

Again in 2012, the emergence of young leadership of Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav was equally surprising but indicated the desire of the electorate for a stable government.

The 2017 results will prove if UP scores a hat-trick.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)