{"id":3531,"date":"2026-08-11T22:11:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T16:41:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/notes\/patterns-of-coalition-politics\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T23:01:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T17:31:54","slug":"patterns-of-coalition-politics","status":"publish","type":"psir_note","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/notes\/patterns-of-coalition-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"Patterns of coalition politics"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PSIR Notes<\/a>\u203a<\/span>I-B Indian Government and Politics<\/a>\u203a<\/span>Patterns of coalition politics<\/span><\/div>\n
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Paper I \u00b7 Indian Government and Politics<\/div>\n

Patterns of coalition politics<\/h1>\n
Syllabus \u00b7 Paper I-B \u00b7 10<\/b> \u2014 Party System : National and regional political parties, ideological and social bases of parties; Patterns of coalition politics<\/span>; Pressure groups, trends in electoral behaviour; changing socio-economic profile of Legislators.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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Coalition Politics \u2014 Meaning & Forms<\/h3>\n

Coalition<\/span><\/p>\n

An alliance of parties or groups to share power when no single party can govern alone. William Riker<\/span> explains coalition as a power-sharing arrangement.<\/p>\n

Parliamentary coalition<\/span> \u2014 no party has a majority; a minority government survives on outside support (V. P. Singh, 1989). Electoral coalition<\/span> \u2014 pre-poll seat-sharing to avoid splitting votes (NDA, UPA). Governmental coalition<\/span> \u2014 parties share cabinet and governance, usually on a Common Minimum Programme<\/span>. Variants include national governments, minority governments with outside support and power-sharing coalitions.<\/p>\n

Coalition Politics \u2014 Evolution<\/h3>\n

Bidyut Chakrabarty<\/span> argues coalitions are not new to India. The sequence runs from state coalitions in 1967, to the Janata Party at the Centre in 1977, the National Front under V. P. Singh<\/span> in 1989, the United Front of thirteen non-BJP parties under H. D. Deve Gowda<\/span> and I. K. Gujral<\/span> in 1996, the NDA under the BJP in 1998\u20131999, the UPA under Congress in 2004\u20132014, a BJP majority within a continuing NDA in 2014\u20132019, and the re-emergence of coalition dependence under the BJP-led NDA in 2024.<\/p>\n

The coalition line, 1967 to 2024.<\/span> 1967<\/span> (coalition governments in states) \u2192 1977<\/span> (Janata Party at the Centre) \u2192 1989\u201396<\/span> (National Front, then United Front) \u2192 1998\u20132014<\/span> (NDA, then UPA) \u2192 2014 \u2192 2024<\/span> (BJP majority, then allies return).<\/p>\n

Coalition Politics \u2014 Features (India vs the West)<\/h3>\n

Indian coalitions run on cross-cutting cleavages \u2014 left\u2013right, secular\u2013communal, centralist\u2013regional, caste-bloc. Parties are often less institutionalised, many catch-all and clientelist. First-Past-The-Post encourages pre-election alliances, federalism intensifies bargaining, small vote shifts produce large seat changes, and minority governments may be more attractive than broad coalitions.<\/p>\n

Bidyut Chakrabarty<\/span> draws the contrast sharply: Western coalitions are often coalition by design<\/span>, Indian ones coalition by political calculations<\/span>. India tends to oversized rather than minimum-winning coalitions; ideological convergence is weaker; rainbow coalitions are common; negative coalitions form to stop another party; and the core party often does not consult partners adequately.<\/p>\n

Coalition Politics \u2014 Impact & Healthy Culture<\/h3>\n

Positive<\/span><\/p>\n

Strengthens federalism \u00b7 includes regional parties \u00b7 moderates extreme positions \u00b7 gives voice to smaller groups \u00b7 reduces over-centralisation \u00b7 encourages negotiation \u00b7 makes governance more representative. Balveer Arora<\/span> links it to the federalisation of the party system; Zoya Hasan<\/span> sees its inclusiveness.<\/p>\n

Negative<\/span><\/p>\n

Policy paralysis \u00b7 instability \u00b7 patronage politics \u00b7 short-term populism \u00b7 weak collective responsibility \u00b7 ministers following party leaders rather than the Prime Minister \u00b7 small parties threatening withdrawal. Atul Kohli<\/span> stresses instability and fragmentation, Myron Weiner<\/span> governance challenges and Paul R. Brass<\/span> short-term compromises.<\/p>\n

Conditions for a healthy coalition culture<\/span><\/p>\n

Clear coalition agreements \u00b7 a common minimum programme \u00b7 mutual respect \u00b7 transparent power-sharing \u00b7 coordination committees \u00b7 conflict-resolution mechanisms \u00b7 a stable Speaker\u2019s role \u00b7 consultation with partners \u00b7 an ideological minimum consensus. Comparative models: Germany (detailed public coalition agreements), the Netherlands (policy and ministerial negotiations) and Sweden (long-term policy continuity).<\/p>\n

Previous<\/em>Ideological and social bases of parties<\/b><\/a>Next<\/em>Pressure groups<\/b><\/a><\/div>\n

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