A coalition government in India refers to a governing structure formed by multiple political parties. The parties come together to collectively hold power and form a government. It occurs when no single party secures an absolute majority in the parliamentary elections. In such cases, political parties negotiate and form alliances with other parties. They then achieve a majority and establish a stable government. These coalition governments are characterized by a shared power-sharing arrangement. A coalition government involves political parties sharing executive power. It typically arises when no single party secures an absolute majority in an election. This situation is common in proportional representation systems, not majoritarian ones.

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About Coalition Government

The word “coalition” comes from the Latin word “coalitio,” which meaning “to develop together.” Thus, coalition technically refers to the process of combining pieces into a single body or whole. In politics, a coalition is an alliance of several political parties. A coalition government is one in which political parties work together to establish a government. It is a government created by more than one political party working together. Following a General Election, parties may elect to establish a coalition administration if there is a hung parliament in which no one party has a clear working majority.

Coalition governments may form during national challenges, such as wartime or economic crises, to enhance political legitimacy and unity. Additionally, they can help reduce internal political conflicts.

Background of Coalition Governments in India

• End of Congress system: Congress party was defeated in 1989 elections and lost its centrality even though it enjoyed a Majority with 415 seats in 1984 elections.
• Rise of Mandal issue: disputes between supporters and opponents of Mandal Commission grew due to implementation of its recommendations to reserve jobs in the Central government for other backward classes.
• New economic reforms: Rajiv Gandhi initiated various structural adjustment programs in 1991.
• Demolition of babri masjid in December 1992: It initiated the issue of nationalism and secularism of India and led to rise of BJP and Hindutva politics.
• Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991: It was done by Sri Lankan Tamil during the election campaign in Tamil Nadu that caused transfer of leadership to Narasimha Rao.
• The first coalition government in India was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2004.

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List of Coalition Government in India

The list of Coalition Government in India is listed below in table:

Features of Coalition Government in India

• A coalition agreement is a negotiated agreement between the parties that constitute a coalition government in multi-party nations. 
• It codifies the cabinet’s most essential common aims and objectives. 
• It is frequently written by legislative party leaders. 
• A coalition system’s core basis is the simple fact of temporary convergence of specific interests. 
• Coalition politics is a dynamic affair in which coalition actors and organizations can dissolve and create new ones. 
• Coalitions are divided into two types: internal coalitions and external coalitions. 
• Internal coalitions are made up of people who already work in an organization, such as a workplace.
• Some example of coalition government in India are Jansatta Dal, National Front, United Front, NDA, UPA.

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Formation of Coalition Governments 

• A coalition government may also be formed during a period of national difficulty or crisis to provide a government with a high degree of perceived political legitimacy or collective identity.
• It may also play a role in reducing internal political strife. 
• A coalition government is one created by the alliance of two or more parties. 
• The government is formed when a party receives the majority of votes in an election. 
• When no one party has a clear majority, a coalition government is created through the partnership of two or more parties.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Coalition Government 

There are various advantages and disadvantages of the coalition government. Some of them are discussed below:

Advantages

• The government’s operation accommodates a variety of interests.
• A coalition government is a vehicle for meeting and addressing the needs of various parties.
• The federal fabric of the Indian political system is strengthened by coalition politics. This is because a coalition administration is more receptive to regional requests.
• Despotic control is less possible with a coalition administration. Because the government’s activities are not dominated by a single political party. The coalition’s members are all participating in the decision-making process.
• A coalition government is made up of a variety of political parties, each having its own ideology and objectives. On the other hand, government policy necessitates the cooperation of all coalition partners. As a result, a coalition government encourages political consensus.
• India is a vast country with a wide range of interests. Cultures, languages, castes, religions, and ethnic groupings are all present. This means that the coalition government is more representative of the electorate and reflects public mood.

Disadvantages

• They’re either unstable or on the edge of becoming so. The government can fall apart due to differences of opinion among coalition members.
• The Prime Minister’s leadership is a fundamental principle of the parliamentary system of government. In a coalition government, this principle is constrained because the Prime Minister must consult with the coalition partners before making key decisions.
• Regional leaders participate in national decision-making by bringing regional realities to the fore. They put pressure on the alliance’s central executive to comply with their requests, threatening to depart if they don’t.
• Members of the coalition government refuse to take responsibility for administrative shortcomings and blunders. To avoid assuming personal and group responsibility, they may conduct blame games.
• The smaller constituency of the coalition government could play a “king-maker” role. They demand more than just parliamentary strength.
• The coalition partners’ Steering Committee or Coordination Committee serves as a “Super-Cabinet,” undermining the cabinet’s role and position in government operations.

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