Context: After 10 years in power, the ruling BJP was not able to gain a majority in the Lok Sabha but is set to form a government with the help of coalition partners under National Democratic Alliance. In this context, let us understand the meaning of coalition politics.
About coalition politics:
- The term coalition is derived from the Latin word coalitio meaning to grow together.
- When several political parties join hands to form a government and exercise political power based on a common agreed programme/agenda, we describe the system as coalition politics or coalition government.
- Coalitions usually Occur in modern parliaments when no single political party can muster a majority of votes. 'Two or more parties, who have enough elected members, between them to form a majority, may then be able to agree on a common manifesto that does not require too many drastic compromises with their individual policies, and can proceed to form a government.
- Coalition denotes a co-operative arrangement under which distinct political parties, or at all events members of such parties, unite to form a government or ministry.
Features of coalition politics: The features or implications of coalition politics or coalition government are summarized by J.C. Johari in the following ways:
- It is a phenomenon of a multi-party government where several minority parties join hands for the purpose of running the government. A coalition is formed when many splinter groups in a House agree to join hands on a common platform by sinking their broad differences and form a majority.
- Coalitions are formed for the sake of some reward, material, or psychic motive. A coalition 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.
- Coalition politics 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 based on a minimum programme, which may not be ideal for each partner of the coalition.
- Pragmatism and not ideology is the mark of coalition politics. In making political adjustments, principles may have to be set aside.
- The purpose of coalition adjustment is to seize power.
Coalitions are of two types:
| Pre-Poll Coalition: A pre-poll alliance is a political arrangement where two or more political parties agree to cooperate and support each other before an election. This alliance is typically formed with the aim of improving their chances of winning by consolidating votes, avoiding vote splitting, and presenting a united front against common opponents. - The pre-poll coalition is considerably advantageous because it provides a common platform to the parties to woo the electorate based on a joint manifesto. | Post Poll Coalition: A post-poll alliance is a political arrangement where two or more political parties agree to cooperate and form a coalition after the election results have been announced. This type of alliance is typically formed when no single party secures an outright majority, necessitating collaboration to achieve the numbers required to govern. -The post-election union is intended to enable constituents to share political power and run the government. |
Coalition Politics in India:
Phase 1: 1947-67
- Indian politics in the period between 1947 to 1967 was coalitional in nature. Political scientists like Rajni Kothari, Morris Jones and Myron Weiner developed a theoretical model for this level in the late sixties through the idea of a one-party dominant system or Congress system.
- Rajni Kothari has also highlighted the consensual politics based on pluralism, accommodation and bargaining followed by Congress party.
Phase 2: 1967-77 Coalition at state level
- Coalition by non-congress opposition parties, and formation of government in 9 states.
- Morris Jones calls that coalition led to the emergence of a 'market polity' leading to a 'pretty regular and continuous defectors market'.
- Divergent ideologies helped in winning elections by providing a mass base, but also led to crisis in governance.
Phase 3: 1977-79
- Defeat of the Congress in 1977 parliamentary as well as assembly elections (in six States).
- The introduction of populist, bureaucratic and authoritarian mode of politics in the party had led to the emergency imposed by the Congress government. Which became the reason for the debacle of congress.
Phase 4: Decline of coalition Politics (1980-89)
- The failure of coalition experiment (failure of Janata coalition government to complete its full term) gave an opportunity to Congress-recovering from a split in 1978 under the leadership of Indira Gandhi to capture power in the 1980 elections.
- Congress received a massive victory in 1984 general elections also. Thus, for a decade the coalition politics came to an end at the center. It however continued at the state level.
Phase 5: 1989-99
- Further decline of coalition politics, immature coalitions leading to hung assemblies and minority government at the Centre and rise of bipolar regional politics at state assemblies.
Phase 6: 1999-2014
- Mature coalitions that are stable.
Phase 7: 2014-24
- Return of single party dominant system, the coalition exists, but since BJP had a majority on floor, it was not dependent on coalition partners to fulfill its manifesto commitments, and not committed to a common minimum programme.
Merits and demerits of coalition form of government:
| Merits of coalition | Demerits of coalition |
| There is an accommodation of diverse interests in the functioning of the government. A coalition government acts as a channel to meet the expectations and redress the grievances of different groups. | They are unstable or prone to instability. The difference of opinion among the coalition partners on policy issues leads to the collapse of the government. |
| India is a highly diversified country. There are different cultures, languages, castes, religions, and ethnic groups, and all these get represented in the coalition governments. This means that a coalition government is more representative in nature, and it better reflects the popular opinion of the electorate. In other words, it represents a much broader spectrum of public opinion than the single-party government. | Leadership of the Prime Minister is a principle of parliamentary form of government. This principle is curtailed in a coalition government as the Prime Minister is required to consult the coalition partners before taking any major decision. The critics have called them 'Super Prime Ministers' or 'Ultra Prime Ministers'. |
| A coalition government comprises different political parties having their own ideologies or agendas. But the governmental policy requires the concurrence of all the coalition partners. Therefore, a coalition government leads to consensus-based politics. In other words, there is consensual decision-making in the coalition governments | The Steering Committee or the Co-ordination Committee of the coalition partners acts as the 'Super-Cabinet', and thereby undermines the role and position of the cabinet in the functioning of the governmental machinery. |
| Coalition politics strengthens the federal fabric of the Indian political system. This is because a coalition government is more sensitive and responsive to the regional demands and concerns than the single-party government. | There is a possibility of the smaller constituents of the coalition government playing the role of a 'King-maker'. They demand more than their strength in the Parliament. |
| A coalition government reduces the tyranny of government (despotic rule). This is due to the reduced domination of a single political party in the functioning of the government. All the members of the coalition participate in the political decision-making. In short, the decisions made are more balanced. | The leaders of regional parties bring in the regional factors in the national decision-making. They pressurize the central executive to act on their lines; otherwise, they would threaten to with- draw from the coalition. |
| The size of the Council of Ministers in a coalition government is generally quite large. This is because the ministry has to reflect all the constituents of the coalition. For example, the A.B. Vajpayee ministry of 1999 had 70-plus ministers and it was called as 'Jumbo Ministry'. This creates the problem of distribution of portfolios as well as the proper coordination among the members. | |
| The members of coalition governments do not assume responsibility for the administrative failures and lapses. They play blame games and thereby escape from both collective responsibility as well as individual responsibility. |