Introduction
The term ‘coalition’ is derived from the Latin word ‘coalitio’, and it means to grow together. As per dictionary meaning, coalition means the act of coalescing or uniting in one body. In political terms, it means an alliance of distinct political parties. When various political parties come together to form a government on the basis of commonly agreed agenda, it is called as coalition politics. This arrangement arises when no political party on its own can gain a majority in the parliament. Other situations of national crisis, for example, wartime, can also give birth to the coalition government so that a high degree of political legitimacy can be given to the government. In coalition, power is more shared among partners. Many splinter groups agree to join by sinking broad differences.
FEATURES OF COALITION GOVERNMENT:
HISTORY OF COALITION GOVERNMENTS:
Following are coalition formed at Centre:
Sr. No. | Period | Coalition | Prime Minister | Partners |
1. | 1979 – 1980 | Janata Party (Secular) | Charan Singh | Janata (S) and Congress (U). Congress (I) supported from outside. |
2. | 1989 – 1990 | National Front | V.P.Singh | Janata Dal, TDP, DMK, AGP and Congress (Socialist). BJP and Left parties supported from outside. |
3. | 1990 – 1991 | Janata Dal (Socialist) or Samajwadi Janata Party | Chandra Shekhar | Janata Dal (S), Janata Party. Congress (I) supported from outside. |
4. | 1996 – 1997 | United Front | H.D.Deve Gowda | Janata Dal, CPI, Congress (T), DMK, TDP, TMC, AGP, SP and others. Congress and CPM supported from outside. |
5. | 1997 – 1998 | United Front | I.K.Gujral | Janata Dal, CPI, TMC, SP, DMK, AGP, TDP and others. Congress supported from outside. |
6. | 1998 – 1999 | BJP- led coalition | A.B.Vajpayee | BJP, AIDMK, BJD, Shiv Sena, Lok Shakti, Arunachal Congress, Samata, Akali Dal, PMK, TRC and others. TDP and Trinamool Congress supported from outside. |
7. | 1999 - 2004 | National Democratic Alliance (NDA) | A.B.Vajpayee | BJP, JD(U), Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, BJD, LJP, DMK, PMK, INLD, MDMK, National Conference, Akali Dal, RLD, AGP and others. |
8. | 2004 – 2009 | United Progressive Alliance (UPA) | Manmohan Singh | Congress, NCP, DMK, RJD, LJP, PMK and others. CPI and CPM supported from outside. |
9. | 2009 – 2014 | United Progressive Alliance (UPA - II) | Manmohan Singh | Congress, NCP, DMK, Trinamool Congress, National Conference and others. |
10. | 2014 – 2019 | NDA | Narendra Modi | BJP, LJP, TDP, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, Apna Dal (S) and others. TDP left NDA in 2018. |
11. | 2019–till date | NDA | Narendra Modi | BJP, Akali Dal, LJP, Shiv Sena and others. Shiv Sena left NDA in November 2019. |
REASONS OF GROWTH OF COALITION POLITICS IN INDIA:
MERITS OF COALITION GOVERNMENT:
DEMERITS OF COALITION GOVERNMENT:
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