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GS Paper II

News Excerpt:

Coalitions at the national level came to public attention in 1977 when they formed the first non-Congress coalition government.

More Coalition Government:

• A coalition government is one in which multiple political parties come together and often reduce the dominance of the party that has won the highest number of seats. 
• Coalition governments are formed as seldom does a political party win the necessary number of seats to form the government on its own. 
• In India, the first coalition government to complete its full-term was the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance from 1999 to 2004. 
• While some say that coalition governments generate more inclusive policies, others believe that coalitions impose constraints on policy making.

Background of National Coalition Government:

• 1977-1979: India's first coalition government

• • After the Congress party's defeat in the 1977 elections, following the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, a diverse alliance called the Janata Party formed the country's first coalition government.
  • Morarji Desai became the prime minister of this coalition government.

• 1979-1980: Splintering of the first coalition

• • The Janata Party coalition splintered due to ideological differences after two years.
  • Charan Singh, Desai's Home Minister, broke away and briefly became prime minister with outside support from Congress, but his government lasted only 23 days.

• 1989: The coalition against Congress

• • No party or pre-poll coalition won a clear majority in the 1989 elections.
  • Vishwanath Pratap Singh formed the National Front coalition against the Congress party and became prime minister with support from the BJP.
  • V.P Singh's government fell in 1990 after the BJP withdrew support over the Ayodhya issue.

• 1990: Another short-lived coalition

• • Chandra Shekhar, a Janata Dal leader, formed the Samajwadi Janata Party and became prime minister with outside support from Congress.
  • His government fell several months later, ending a series of short-lived coalition governments.

• 1998: The birth of the NDA

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, including parties like Shiv Sena and AIADMK, and became prime minister.
• However, this government lasted only 13 months before the AIADMK withdrew support.

• 1999-2004: 

• The NDA coalition led by Vajpayee won the 1999 elections and completed its full term.

• 2004-2014: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA)

• • The Congress party, led by Sonia Gandhi, formed the UPA coalition and chose Manmohan Singh as prime minister.
  • The UPA alliance was re-elected in 2009 and ruled until 2014, with the Congress as the head of the coalition without a majority on its own.

• 2019 Election Victory

• • In the 2019 Indian general elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, secured a historic mandate. 
  • The BJP won 303 seats on its own but still relied on its allies, including the Shiv Sena and Janata Dal (United) (JDU), to form the coalition government.

• 2024 LS Election and Coalition

• In the most recent election, the NDA, once again led by the BJP, won a third consecutive term. 
• This time, the coalition included regional parties like the JDU and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), highlighting the BJP's continued strategy of forming alliances with regional entities to maintain a broad-based support system across India. The opposition block also formed a coalition named I.N.D.I Alliance.

Advantages of Coalition Government:

• Promotion of Federalism

• Coalition governments promote federalism by recognizing and accommodating the diverse interests of various states and regions. This leads to policies that are more tailored to regional needs, fostering a sense of inclusion and participation among different states. 
• The inclusion of regional parties like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the NDA helps ensure that the specific interests of states like Andhra Pradesh are considered at the national level

• Plurality and Representation of Diverse Views

• • Coalitions bring in a plurality of views and can be more representative of the country's diversity. 
  • The inclusion of regional parties like the Shiv Sena and the Janata Dal (United) in the NDA highlights how coalitions can incorporate a wide range of perspectives, ensuring that various regional and local interests are represented at the national level.

• Accommodation of Regional Interests

• • Regional parties representing different states and interests can be accommodated in coalition governments, ensuring greater representation. 
  • This inclusivity helps address regional issues more effectively, as seen in the NDA and UPA governments, which included multiple regional parties addressing local concerns within the national policy framework.

• Deliberation and Moderation of Policies

• • Coalitions can foster more deliberation and act as a check on radical policies. The presence of multiple parties with varying ideologies ensures thorough debate and consideration before implementing significant policies, potentially preventing drastic measures like demonetization that might face greater scrutiny in a coalition setup.

• Proportional Representation for Smaller Parties

• Coalition governments provide an avenue for smaller parties to have a say in governance proportionate to their strength. 
• This proportional representation ensures that even smaller political entities can influence policy decisions and governance, contributing to a more balanced and inclusive political environment.

Challenges of Coalition Government:

• Lack of Coherent Policy Agendas

• • Coalitions of convenience, without ideological coherence, tend to lack coherent policy agendas and can be divided from within. 
  • For instance, the Janata Party government (1977-1979) splintered due to ideological differences among its diverse alliance members, leading to its collapse after only two years in power.

• Increased Likelihood of Corruption and Overspending

• • Coalition governments are more likely to be corrupt and overspend to satisfy the demands of various coalition partners. 
  • This was evident in the early coalition governments like the Janata Party, where internal divisions and power struggles led to inefficiency and instability, ultimately causing the government to fall apart.

• Difficulty in Agreeing on a Common Minimum Programme

• • It can be challenging for coalition partners to agree on a common minimum programme, as their primary goal is often just to keep the incumbent party out of power. 
  • The National Front coalition under VP Singh in 1989, supported by the BJP, fell apart when the BJP withdrew its support due to ideological differences and specific issues like the Ram Temple movement.

• Prioritization of 'Club Goods' Over Broader Public Goods

• Regional parties in coalitions may prioritize the distribution of 'club goods' (benefits for specific communities they represent) over broader public goods spending. 
• For example, the United Front government (1996-1998) faced challenges in maintaining a unified policy direction due to the varied interests of its regional partners, leading to its eventual downfall.