The emergence of coalition politics in independent India can be attributed to various factors, but the primary factor that led to it was the split in the Congress party in 1969. This event had significant repercussions on the political landscape of the country and set the stage for the rise of coalition governments.

Split in the Congress Party (1969):
- In 1969, the Congress party, which had been the dominant political force since independence, witnessed a major split. This split was primarily caused by ideological differences and power struggles within the party.
- The faction led by Indira Gandhi, known as the Congress (R), advocated for a more socialist and populist agenda, while the faction led by Morarji Desai, known as the Congress (O), represented the conservative and pro-business wing of the party.
- This split resulted in a significant decline in the Congress party's dominance and paved the way for the rise of regional and smaller parties.

Impact of the Congress Party Split:
- The split weakened the Congress party's hold on power and created a power vacuum in many states.
- Regional leaders who were dissatisfied with the Congress party's central leadership began to form their own regional parties to challenge the Congress's dominance.
- These regional parties gained popularity by focusing on local issues and addressing the specific needs and aspirations of the people in their respective states.
- As a result, the regional parties started gaining electoral strength and emerged as key players in the political scenario.

Rise of Regional Parties:
- The split in the Congress party provided an opportunity for regional parties to fill the void left by the decline of the national parties.
- These regional parties represented the diverse linguistic, cultural, and regional identities of different states and were able to mobilize support based on these identities.
- They formed alliances and coalitions with other regional parties to consolidate their electoral strength and challenge the dominance of national parties like the Congress.
- The emergence of regional parties and their ability to win a significant number of seats in the parliament led to the fragmentation of the political landscape and the formation of coalition governments at the national level.

In conclusion, the split in the Congress party in 1969 precipitated the emergence of coalition politics in independent India. This split weakened the Congress's dominance, created a power vacuum, and provided an opportunity for regional parties to establish themselves as key players in the political arena. The rise of regional parties eventually led to the formation of coalition governments at the national level.