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Why in News: The 18th Lok Sabha election in India was recently held, and no political party achieved the necessary majority (272/543) to form the government at the centre. The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party. The NDA(BJP and its coalition allies) was successful in forming a government.
The Recent 18th Lok sabha General Elections has resulted into the formation of Coalition Government, when no single political party is able to cross the majority mark of 272 seats, The BJP led NDA which secured 293 seats was able to form the government. Since the decline of dominance of Congress since 1989 elections, which led to the emergence of National front led by the alliance of Janta Dal and other regional parties, the era of Coalition governments was in place till 2014, after which there was a Full majority Government for two consecutive terms, till 2024. The Coalition government offers inclusive decision making, increased accountability but at the same time it also hampers the stability of government, gives rise to interference in the policy implementation, policy paralysis and delayed decision making. The concept of hung assembly also arises with this, and the application of discretionary power of the president in inviting the leader of largest political party to form the government with the support of others.
A coalition government is formed when multiple political parties collaborate to govern, especially when no single party secures a majority. In India, such governments are common in situations where no party can achieve the required majority in the Lok Sabha, leading to alliances among parties to form a government.
Coalition governments in India became prominent after the decline of the Congress party's dominance, beginning with the 1989 election when the National Front, an alliance of Janata Dal and regional parties, won. The era of coalition governments continued until 2014, with multiple parties forming governments due to no single party achieving a majority.
Coalition governments can cater to diverse interests, enhance federalism, ensure inclusive decision-making, and resist autocratic tendencies. They often lead to strong political consensus and better representation of various cultures, languages, and communities.
Coalition governments can be prone to instability, as smaller coalition partners may exert disproportionate influence, leading to compromises in leadership and decision-making. Regional biases and lack of accountability for administrative mistakes can also be significant challenges.
A hung parliament occurs when no single party secures an absolute majority of seats in the legislature. In such cases, the President may invite the leader of the largest party or coalition to form the government. The Punchhi Commission's recommendations guide the process of forming a government in such scenarios, emphasizing the importance of stability and broad support.
Period | Coalition | Prime Minister (Party) |
---|---|---|
1977-1979 | Janata Party | Morarji Desai (Congress (O)) |
1979-1980 | Janata Party (Secular) | Charan Singh (Janata (S)) |
1989-1990 | National Front | V. P. Singh (Janata Dal) |
1990-1991 | Janata Dal (Socialist) or Samajwadi Janata Party | Chandra Shekhar (Janata Dal (S) or Samajwadi Party) |
1996-1997 | United Front | H. D. Deve Gowda (Janata Dal) |
1997-1998 | United Front | I. K. Gujral (Janata Dal) |
1998-1999 | BJP-led Coalition | A. B. Vajpayee (BJP) |
1999-2004 | National Democratic Alliance (NDA) | A. B. Vajpayee (BJP) |
2004-2009 | United Progressive Alliance(UPA) | Manmohan Singh (Congress) |
2009-2014 | United Progressive Alliance - II (UPA-II) | Manmohan Singh (Congress) |
2014-2019 | National Democratic Alliance (NDA) | Narendra Modi (BJP) |
2019-present | National Democratic Alliance (NDA) | Narendra Modi (BJP) |
Hung Parliament
In parliamentary systems, a Hung Parliament is a crucial concept when no single party obtains an absolute majority of seats in the legislature. A nation's political dynamics, stability of government, and policy-making procedures can all be significantly impacted by this circumstance. Example. 1990- V.P. Singh government, 1996- Vajpayee government, 1996-1998 United Front government.
President’s discretionary power in Hung parliament (It is Convention and not mentioned in Constitution):
Punchhi Commission on hung legislature
"In the intricate tapestry of coalition governments, unity in diversity emerges, proving that 'political plurality fosters consensus and resilience'—a testament to India's democratic ethos and governance evolution."
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