The first formal coalition in Indian politics was the Janta Party. Formed in 1977, the Janta Party was a coalition of several political parties that joined together to oppose the ruling Congress party. The Janta Party came into existence after the Congress party faced a significant loss in the general elections of 1977.

The Janta Party coalition consisted of four major political parties: the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), the Socialist Party, the Congress (O), and the Lok Dal. These parties came together with the aim of providing an alternative to the Congress party, which had been in power for most of India's post-independence history.

The Janta Party's formation was a significant development in Indian politics as it marked the first time that multiple political parties had formally come together to form a coalition. Prior to this, political alliances were usually formed on an ad hoc basis, with parties coming together for specific reasons or issues.

The Janta Party's formation was a response to the perceived authoritarianism and corruption of the Congress party under the leadership of Indira Gandhi. The coalition aimed to provide a more democratic and inclusive alternative to the Congress party's governance.

The Janta Party's coalition government came to power after winning a majority in the 1977 general elections. Morarji Desai, a prominent leader of the Janta Party, became the prime minister of India. However, the Janta Party government faced numerous challenges and internal conflicts, leading to its eventual collapse in 1979.

Despite its relatively short-lived existence, the Janta Party's formation and subsequent government marked an important milestone in Indian politics. It set the precedent for future political coalitions and paved the way for the formation of other major coalitions like the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the years to come.