Recently, Coalition politics has made a comeback at the national stage after 10 years of a de facto one-party rule.
What is a coalition government?
Coalition - The term 'coalition' is derived from the Latin word 'coalitio-' which means 'to grow together'.
Thus, technically, coalition means the act of uniting parts into one body or whole.
Politically, coalition means an alliance of distinct political parties.
Coalition government– When several political parties join hands to form a government and exercise political power on the basis of a common agreed programme or agenda.
Basis of coalition – It is a direct descendant of the exigencies
of multi-party system in a democratic set-up.
It is a phenomenon of a multi-party government where a number of minority parties join hands for the purpose of running the government.
Forms of alliance – It can be formed in two ways
Pre-poll alliance
Post-election alliance
Power Sharing - Power is distributed among the coalition partners, with key positions such as the Prime Minister or Chief Minister and various ministerial roles shared according to pre-agreed terms.
Features - Coalitions are formed for the sake of some reward, material or psychic.
It implies the existence of at least two partners.
The underlying principle of a coalition system stands on the simple fact of temporary conjunction of specific interest.
It is not a static but a dynamic affair as coalition players and groups dissolve and form new ones.
The keynote of coalition politics is compromise, and rigid dogma has no place in it.
A coalition government works on the basis of a minimum programme, which may not be ideal for each partner of the coalition.
Pragmatism and not ideology is the hallmark of coalition politics.
The purpose of coalition adjustment is to seize power.
What are factors for emergence of coalition government in India?
Decline of single-party dominance- The decline of the Indian National Congress's dominance in the late 1960s and 1970s led to a more fragmented political landscape, requiring coalition arrangements to form governments.
Rise of regional parties - The emergence of strong regional parties with significant voter bases contributed to the fragmentation of national parties, making coalition necessary to achieve a majority.
Diverse electorate - India’s diverse electorate, with varying regional, linguistic, and cultural interests, led to the formation of coalitions to address the interests of different groups and regions.
Internal party fragmentation - Fragmentation within major parties, often results in the formation of splinter groups that align with others to form a coalition.
Strategic political alliance - Strategic alliances between parties, either to counter common rivals or to leverage shared interests, have led to the formation of coalition governments.
Post-Emergency political landscape - After the Emergency period (1975-1977), there was a push for more inclusive and representative governance, leading to the rise of coalition politics as a way to reflect a broader spectrum of political views.
Electoral system – At times, the first-past-the-post electoral system may ensure that no single party wins an outright majority thus prompting for coalition partnerships.
What are the implications of coalition government?
Coalition Government
Merits
Demerits
Diverse and inclusive government.
Strengthens centre-state relations and federalism.
Promotes deliberations and discussion in decision making.
Develops unified agendas and ensure more balanced policy making.
Regional and minorities parties can have a say.
It can enhance accountability by ensuring that different viewpoints and interests are represented and scrutinized.
Holding multiple parties together are prone to unstable government.
Competing interests and agendas can affect national aspirations.
Shifting political alliances can impact policy decisions.
Negotiations can lead to delayed decision making process.
Reconciling to different parties can result in policy gridlock.
It can sometimes dilute the core ideologies of participating parties.
