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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:

  • Principally coalition governance has two concepts involved. One is ‘common governance’ which is based on a common decision-making process. Other is ‘joint governance’ which is based on the distribution of power.
  • Operation of the coalition is not regulated by any legal staff.
  • Pragmatism is the hallmark of coalition politics and not ideology.
  • The pre-poll coalition is considered fairer and advantageous as electorates get to know about the joint manifesto.

HISTORY OF COALITION GOVERNMENTS:

  • It draws its roots from the time of warring states used to ally with each other to defeat a common enemy.
  • In independent India, when there was split in Congress party in 1969, the minority government of Indira Gandhi continued with outside support of CPI, DMK and others.
  • The first formal coalition was of Janta Party during period 1977 – 1979 which had Congress (O), Bharatiya Jana Sangha, Bhartiya Lok Dal, Socialist party, Congress for Democracy, Charan Shekhar Group and others.

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:

  • The democratisation of politics as there is growth in regional parties. The regional and caste identities have begun to assert themselves in political space.
  • National parties are unable to represent a huge diversity of India. The coalition represents disparate interests more adequately.
  • Single party acclaim concentration of power. There is a loss of trust because extreme views and politics are invariably denied to accommodate.
  • If we take cognisance of recent incidences in Indian politics, there is moral degeneration of political parties.

MERITS OF COALITION GOVERNMENT:

  • It leads to consensus-based politics. It rules out the possibility of majoritarianism.
  • It better reflects popular opinion of the electorate within a country. A coalition government is more democratic.
  • Cabinet based on a coalition with a majority in parliament is more stable, dynamic and long-lived.
  • Government need not go for populistic measures in fear of no-confidence or losing power. It can give more concentration on governance.
  • Government policies can be more flexible, and there is more possibility of corrections with enhanced scrutiny.
  • In this type of political system, distinct identities are more accommodated, preserved and promoted within the larger political union.

DEMERITS OF COALITION GOVERNMENT:

  • Distribution and separation of policy fields make control of Prime Minister difficult over portfolios belonging to coalition partners.
  • Decision-making process gets shifted from clear procedure to informal conversations. Separation of power is circumvented in a coalition government.
  • Though the political position of party leaders gets strengthened, political organisations get weakened.
  • It is basically based on compromises and considerations. This is an arrangement to remain in power. It has a tendency to be fractious and prone to disharmony.
  • Parties belonging to contrasting ideologies come together. There is no coherence in government policy. The government can not push its bold decisions because of a lack of a majority.
  • It weakens the political efficiency of government. Slower decision-making process threatens the effectiveness of governance.
The document Coalition Government In India | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE is a part of the UPSC Course Indian Polity for UPSC CSE.
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FAQs on Coalition Government In India - Indian Polity for UPSC CSE

1. What is a coalition government in India?
Ans. A coalition government in India is a political alliance formed by multiple political parties to gain a majority and form a government. It occurs when no single party secures a majority of seats in the parliament during elections.
2. How does a coalition government function in India?
Ans. In a coalition government, multiple political parties come together and form an alliance. They work collectively to establish a common agenda and share power to govern the country. The parties negotiate and make compromises on various issues to maintain the stability and functioning of the government.
3. What are the advantages of a coalition government in India?
Ans. There are several advantages of a coalition government in India. It promotes inclusivity and represents a diverse range of interests and ideologies. It encourages consensus-building and decision-making through dialogue and negotiations. It also helps in preventing the concentration of power in a single party, fostering checks and balances within the government.
4. What are the challenges faced by coalition governments in India?
Ans. Coalition governments in India often face challenges due to the divergent interests and ideologies of the participating parties. Coordination and consensus-building can be time-consuming and challenging, leading to delays in policy implementation. There may also be internal conflicts and disagreements among coalition partners, which can create instability and affect governance.
5. Are coalition governments common in India?
Ans. Yes, coalition governments are relatively common in India. Due to the multi-party system and diverse political landscape, no single party has been able to secure a majority on its own in many instances. As a result, coalition governments have become a frequent occurrence, especially at the central and state levels.
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