Test: Coalition Government - UPSC MCQ

The term 'coalition' is derived from the Latin word 'coalitio', which means to grow together. In political terms, it refers to an alliance of distinct political parties that come together to form a government based on a commonly agreed agenda.

Coalition governments are not regulated by any legal staff. They are based on common governance, joint governance, and pragmatism over ideology.

The pre-poll coalition is considered fairer and advantageous as electorates get to know about the joint manifesto, which helps them make an informed decision during elections.

The emergence of coalition politics in independent India can be traced back to the split in the Congress party in 1969. The minority government of Indira Gandhi continued with the outside support of CPI, DMK, and others.

Coalition government leads to consensus-based politics, which rules out the possibility of majoritarianism. This ensures a more democratic form of governance that better reflects the popular opinion of the electorate.

Coalition government can result in a slower decision-making process, which may threaten the effectiveness of governance. This is due to the need for consensus among coalition partners with differing ideologies and interests.

The growth of coalition politics in India can be attributed to the democratisation of politics, which has led to the rise of regional parties and the assertion of regional and caste identities in the political space.

Coalition governments often involve parties with contrasting ideologies, which can result in a lack of coherence in government policies. This is considered a demerit of coalition government.

A coalition government can be formed when no political party on its own can gain a majority in the parliament, or during times of national crisis, such as wartime, to provide a high degree of political legitimacy to the government.

The first formal coalition in Indian politics was the Janta Party during the period 1977-1979. It comprised Congress (O), Bharatiya Jana Sangha, Bhartiya Lok Dal, Socialist party, Congress for Democracy, Charan Shekhar Group, and others.