Q. Consider the following statements with reference to the Coalition Governments:
1. In India, the first coalition government at the Centre was formed by Janta Party in 1977.
2. To be called as a coalition, it must have at least three political parties as partners.
3. A coalition government always works on the basis of a common minimum programme.
How many of the above-given statements are correct?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
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.
Statement 1 is correct: First coalition government in India at Centre was formed by Janta Party in 1977. This was a historic year in Indian Politics, which gave India its first-ever Coalition government, that too formed by nonCongress Parties. Prime Minister Morarji Desai was the first Non-Congress Prime Minister during the period from March 1977 to June 1979.
Statement 2 is incorrect: 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, can proceed to form a government. Thus, a coalition implies the existence of at least two (not three) partners.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The keynote of coalition politics is generally compromise. A coalition government may generally work on the basis of a common minimum programme but it is not necessarily true always. When a political party in coalition has the majority to run the government on her own (as can be seen in India in present scenario) the common minimum programme might not be followed.
| Important Tips The Common Minimum Programme is a document outlining the minimum objectives to achieved by a coalition government. The document has acquired prominence since coalition governments have become the norm in India. |
