topic 5 coalition-revised

8/8/2019 Topic 5 Coalition-revised

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To put it simply, a coalition government is a cabinet of aparliamentary government in which several partiescooperate. Coalition governments are usually formed as noparty can individually achieve a majority in the parliament.However, a coalition government may also be created in atime of national difficulty or crisis. If a coalition collapses, aconfidence vote is held or a motion of no confidence istaken.Coalition governments are not new in India. After thevery first elections in 1952, three state governments wereformed as coalition governments. Since 1977, when the

coalition led by Janata Party won after the Emergency waslifted, we have had a number of coalition governments at theCentre

India has had coalition governments at the Centre as well asin individual states since the last four decades .Since India isa diverse country with different ethnic, linguistic and religiouscommunities, it also has diverse ideologies. Due to this, the

benefit that a coalition has is that it leads to more consensusbased politics and reflects the popular opinion of theelectorate. The current UPA-Left arrangement had beenformed after parliamentary elections in 2004. Though theyhave main adversaries in three states, this government wasstill a stable one till Left withdrew support on matters ofnuclear deal.

Some of the arguments favouring a coalition Governments

are :

Government will be more consensus-based: resultingpolicies will be broadly approved of

Better representation of the electorate's wishes


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Better quality of policy: enhanced scrutiny andincreased attention paid to each policy

Increased continuity: election does not lead to dramatic

overhaul which can produce fragmented rule

If we turn the pages of Indian History after Independence wecan clearly see that sometime coalition government failed togive the good governance to the people of India. We cantake the example as follows:

1. Janta Dal government at centre in 19892. previous state government in Karnatka(Congress JantaDal alliance)3. BJP lead alliance headed by AB Bajpayee had not smoothrun4. Last government alliance in U.P. before Mayavatigovernment

With the elimination of dominant party system ,coalitiongovernment has become the order of day. Now days wheremany times parties fail to give majority election coalitiongovernment become necessity and with various alliance anew type of government is formed ,and they are runningsmoothly though with some uneven patches here and there .Government under P.V Narsimma Rao and A.B Bajapyee isgood example of coalition government. With difference in

ideologies in various political parties this type of governmentis formed due to grass route decentralization in theory orpractice and accepting the peoples mandate. Major partieswhich used to reject the idea of coalition policies are nowaccepting this alliances in order to form the Government asmandated by people.


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In a country over 100cr population the rule of single personor party can prove to be disastrous sometimes . Imagine

enforcing writ of single party on people coming from differentregion, and ethinic group.

Coalation government is good at most of the times. But alsoit has some disadvantages. In coalition government if theruling party bring some bad rules that affects our country wecan easily get hold of them with help of the supportingparties.

Thus the government cannot take decisions on it own will. Itis somewhat dependent. But it is always good. So far, ourcountry have seen coalition government only for most of thetimes. So we can easily find its importance.

In order to have stable coalitions, it is necessary that politicalparties moderate their ideologies and programmes. Theyshould be more open to take others point of view as well.They must accommodate each others interests and

concerns. But this is not what is happening in India. In India,parties do not always agree on the correct path forgovernmental policy. Different parties have different interestsand beliefs and it is difficult to sustain a consensus on issueswhen disagreements arise. They often fail to see eye to eyewith the government on many public policies. However, thisis not to say that we have never had successful coalitions.Governments in Kerela and West Bengal and NDA at the

Centre have been sucessful coalitions. Other coalitionsshould learn from these because it is difficult to operate in anenvironment full of disagreements.


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Different thinking and ideologies coming under onegovernment arises difference among the government usually .In order to have stable coalition it is necessary that politicalparties are ready to adjust and compromise. But this is not

happening in India in our country parties do not always agreeon the correct part for government policy. Different partieshave different interest and they are busy in satisfying thisinterest thus it become difficult to sustain the main ideologywhich will help our country

In order to have good and perfect government experts suggestto take following measures

1. coalition must be between more or less equal partner2. coalition of relatively smaller parties led by majority partyeg NDA or UPAThe fact of the matter is that India has had coalitiongovernments in the past and it will continue to have in thefuture as well. Therefore, it is in best interest for all thatparties develop a sense of understanding and do not play

games of power politics and bad politics. It is high time thatthe MPs realize how bad India fares on other economicvariables in the world, and it is time they put their energy inimproving those than just catering to their selfish interests.

In order to have stable coalitions, it is necessary that politicalparties moderate their ideologies and programmes. Theyshould be more open to take others point of view as well.

They must accommodate each others interests andconcerns. But this is not what is happening in India. In India,parties do not always agree on the correct path forgovernmental policy. Different parties have different interestsand beliefs and it is difficult to sustain a consensus on issueswhen disagreements arise. They often fail to see eye to eye


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with the government on many public policies. However, thisis not to say that we have never had successful coalitions.Governments in Kerela and West Bengal and NDA / UPA atthe Centre have been successful coalitions. Other coalitions

should learn from these because it is difficult to operate in anenvironment full of disagreements.

topic 5 coalition-revised

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