The term coalition is derived from the Latin word ‘coalition’ meaning to go or grow together. Thus it means an act of coalescing or uniting into one body or alliance. It indicates the combination of a number of bodies or parts into one body or whole. In the political sense it is used to indicate an alliance or temporary union between various political groups for the exercise or control of political power. Thus, it can be said that result of the exigencies of competitive Multi-Party System in a parliamentary Democracy is coalition. It is a phenomenon where more than two Political Parties come together to form a government , sinking their basic ideological differences in the event of the inability of any single party to command a workable majority in the lower House of the legislature.
In India, the formation of coalition governments at the centre started with Morarji Desai’s regime, though at the state level, these had started functioning from 1967. At the centre, coalition ministries have been formed seven times between 1977 and April 1999.
Kerala was the first among Indianprovinces to have witnessed acoalition government in post independence era. First General Election for legislative assembly was held in 1952. The Congress formed acoalition government in the statealong with Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress in March 1952.
The states of India with Coalition Government are Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Nagaland, Maharashtra, and Puducherry. In 2015, alliance of two main parties BJP and PDP formed a coalition government in J&K. The coalition govt could not hold the command on the state for long and hence BJP pulled out their alliance on 20 June, 2018.
In 2018 general Elections, a coalition government of Congress and JD(S) came into power in Karnataka.
In 2016, the alliance of INC and DMK formed the coalition government in Puducherry. On 31 October 2014, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena (SS) coalition formed the Government under the Leadership of Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra. In 2014, an alliance of BJP and JD(U) formed the government under the leadership of Mr. Nitish Kumar in Bihar. Democratic Alliance of Nagaland headed the Nagaland government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) (JDU). It is formed in 2003 after Nagaland Legislative Assembly election with Naga People’s Front (NPF) and BJP. The alliance is in power in Nagaland since 2003.
Generally coalitions are said to be formed on account of one of the following reasons:
No single political party is able to secure a working majority in the popular house on account of the presence of multi-party system. Under these circumstances a number like-minded political parties form the coalition to provide a workable majority and run the government.
In a Bi-party system a deadlock may be created due of even balance between two parties allying itself with a minor group such as neutral or defectors till the majority in its favour.
A coalition may be necessitated by a national crisis when the various political groups may suspend their political strife and collaborate in the general cause of protecting and promoting their national interest.
Today, personal power and personal ambition have become the keywords in political vocabulary of the politicians. The public and the national interests have been replaced by personal and sectarian interests. This has disastrous consequences for the actual conduct of the Polity.
The parties function not on the basis of ideological basis and programmatic commitments but on regional, communal and caste basis. In recent times, many leaders have left behind their ideological baggage in favour of what they describe as political pragmatism, but in reality these people are political opportunists in pursuit of power. The political maneuverers of some political parties which have made opportunism a virtue are glaring examples of politics without any commitment to idealism or ideology.
The opportunism motivated by personal ambition for power, has made political ideology a matter of convenience rather than of conviction. It reflects a serious pathology of our political life and total lack of idealism, which adversely affects the functioning of coalition governments.
Besides, frequent elections retard economic Growth, increase Fiscal Deficit, adversely affect business confidence, plummet stocks, and raise the prices of commodities used by the common people. Political uncertainty hampers development and affects foreign relations. Experiments in the last three years in our country have also proved wrong the assumption that coalition ministries are more logical for federal polity. The spectre is of governmental instability, fragmented national politics, and policies on vital issue suffering from interruptions.
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Coalition governments are governments formed by two or more political parties. They are often formed when no single party wins a majority of seats in an election. Coalition governments can be stable or unstable, depending on the relationship between the parties involved.
In India, coalition governments are common at the state level. This is because no single party has ever won a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. As a result, coalition governments are formed at the national level as well.
Coalition governments can be beneficial for democracy. They can help to ensure that all voices are heard and that no one party has too much power. However, they can also be unstable and difficult to manage.
Here are some of the sub topics on coalition governments in states:
Types of coalition governments
Advantages and disadvantages of coalition governments
There are three main types of coalition governments:
Minimal winning coalitions are coalitions that are just large enough to form a majority in the legislature.
Minimal connected winning coalitions are coalitions that are just large enough to form a majority and that are also connected, meaning that all of the parties in the coalition have some common ground.
Oversized coalitions are coalitions that are larger than necessary to form a majority.
Advantages of coalition governments
Coalition governments can have several advantages. First, they can help to ensure that all voices are heard in government. When multiple parties are involved in decision-making, it is more likely that all of the different interests in Society will be represented. Second, coalition governments can help to prevent one party from becoming too powerful. When there are multiple parties in government, it is more difficult for any one party to dominate the political process. Third, coalition governments can help to promote stability in government. When there is a single party in power, it is more likely that that party will make decisions that are in its own best interests, even if those decisions are not in the best interests of the country as a whole. When there are multiple parties in government, it is more difficult for any one party to make decisions that are not in the best interests of the country as a whole.
Disadvantages of coalition governments
Coalition governments also have some disadvantages. First, they can be unstable. When there are multiple parties in government, it is more likely that there will be disagreements and conflicts between the parties. This can lead to the government being unable to make decisions or to being unable to pass legislation. Second, coalition governments can be slow and inefficient. When there are multiple parties involved in decision-making, it can take longer to reach decisions and to implement those decisions. Third, coalition governments can be expensive. When there are multiple parties in government, each party will want to have its own ministers and its own programs. This can lead to a large increase in government spending.
Examples of coalition governments in India
There have been many coalition governments in India at the state level. Some examples include:
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, which was in power at the national level from 2004 to 2014, was a coalition government. The UPA was formed by the Indian National Congress (INC) and several other parties.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, which has been in power at the national level since 2014, is also a coalition government. The NDA is formed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several other parties.
Challenges of coalition governments
Coalition governments face a number of challenges. One challenge is that they can be unstable. When there are multiple parties in government, it is more likely that there will be disagreements and conflicts between the parties. This can lead to the government being unable to make decisions or to being unable to pass legislation. Another challenge is that coalition governments can be slow and inefficient. When there are multiple parties involved in decision-making, it can take longer to reach decisions and to implement those decisions. Finally, coalition governments can be expensive. When there are multiple parties in government, each party will want to have its own ministers and its own programs. This can lead to a large increase in government spending.
Future of coalition governments in India
It is likely that coalition governments will continue to be common in India in the future. This is because no single party has ever won a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. As a result, coalition governments are formed at the national level as well. Coalition governments can be beneficial for democracy. They can help to ensure that all voices are heard and that no one party has too much power. However, they can also be unstable and difficult to manage.
What is a coalition government?
A coalition government is a government formed by a group of political parties that agree to work together. This can happen when no one party has a majority of seats in the legislature.
What are the advantages of a coalition government?
Coalition governments can provide stability and continuity in government. They can also be more representative of the views of the people, as they bring together different parties with different perspectives.
What are the disadvantages of a coalition government?
Coalition governments can be slow to make decisions, as they need to get agreement from all the parties involved. They can also be unstable, as parties may disagree on policy or leadership.
What are some examples of coalition governments?
Some examples of coalition governments include the current government of Germany, which is formed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Free Democratic Party (FDP); and the previous government of the United Kingdom, which was formed by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats.
What are some challenges that coalition governments face?
Coalition governments face a number of challenges, including:
Maintaining unity: Coalition governments are often fragile, as they are made up of different parties with different views. It can be difficult to maintain unity within a coalition government, and it can be even more difficult to make decisions when there is disagreement between the parties.
Making decisions: Coalition governments can be slow to make decisions, as they need to get agreement from all the parties involved. This can be a problem in times of crisis, when quick decisions are needed.
Accountability: Coalition governments can be difficult to hold accountable, as it is not always clear who is responsible for decisions. This can be a problem if the government makes unpopular decisions.
What are some factors that can help coalition governments succeed?
Some factors that can help coalition governments succeed include:
A strong leader: A strong leader can help to keep a coalition government together and make decisions.
A clear program: A coalition government needs to have a clear program that all the parties involved can agree on. This will help to prevent disagreements and make it easier to make decisions.
A good working relationship between the parties: The parties in a coalition government need to have a good working relationship. This will help to prevent disagreements and make it easier to make decisions.
Public support: Coalition governments need public support in order to succeed. If the public does not support the government, it will be difficult for the government to make decisions and implement its policies.
Question 1
A coalition government is a government formed by a group of political parties that agree to work together. This can happen when no single party has a majority of seats in the legislature.
Which of the following is not a benefit of a coalition government?
(A) It can provide stability and continuity in government.
(B) It can allow for a more representative government.
(C) It can lead to more effective decision-making.
(D) It can be more difficult to pass legislation.
Answer
(D) is the correct answer. Coalition governments can be more difficult to form and maintain, and they can also be more difficult to pass legislation. However, they can also provide stability and continuity in government, and they can allow for a more representative government.
Question 2
A minority government is a government that does not have a majority of seats in the legislature. This can happen when a party wins the most seats in an election, but not enough to form a majority government.
Which of the following is not a challenge of a minority government?
(A) It must rely on the support of other parties to pass legislation.
(B) It may be less stable than a majority government.
(C) It may be more difficult to govern effectively.
(D) It may be more responsive to the needs of the people.
Answer
(D) is the correct answer. A minority government may be less stable than a majority government, and it may be more difficult to govern effectively. However, it may also be more responsive to the needs of the people, as it must rely on the support of other parties to pass legislation.
Question 3
A hung parliament is a situation in which no party wins a majority of seats in the legislature. This can happen when no party wins a majority of the popular vote, or when the seats are divided evenly between two or more parties.
Which of the following is not a possible outcome of a hung parliament?
(A) A coalition government may be formed.
(B) A minority government may be formed.
(C) A new election may be called.
(D) The government may continue to function as a minority government.
Answer
(D) is the correct answer. A hung parliament does not necessarily mean that the government will collapse. The government may continue to function as a minority government, or a coalition government may be formed. However, a new election may also be called.
Question 4
A parliamentary system is a System of Government in which the executive branch is drawn from the legislature. This means that the prime minister and other members of the cabinet are also members of parliament.
Which of the following is not a feature of a parliamentary system?
(A) The head of state is a separate position from the head of government.
(B) The prime minister is the head of government.
(C) The cabinet is drawn from the legislature.
(D) The government is responsible to the legislature.
Answer
(A) is the correct answer. In a parliamentary system, the head of state is a separate position from the head of government. The head of state is typically a monarch or a president, and they have a largely ceremonial role. The head of government is the prime minister, who is the leader of the party or coalition that has the most seats in parliament.
Question 5
A presidential system is a system of government in which the executive branch is separate from the legislature. This means that the president is not a member of parliament, and the president and the legislature are elected separately.
Which of the following is not a feature of a presidential system?
(A) The head of state is also the head of government.
(B) The president is elected by the people.
(C) The president is responsible to the legislature.
(D) The president has the power to veto legislation.
Answer
(C) is the correct answer. In a presidential system, the president is not responsible to the legislature. The president is elected by the people, and they have the power to veto legislation. However, the legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote.