From 1977 to 1998, 5 coalition governments were formed in the midst of which 5 years were not completed and were overthrown in the history of India.
BJP and Congress did not get majority in Lok Sabha elections. 272 seats are required for majority. Thus, the BJP is relying on its NDP alliance parties to form a new government. Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister of the new coalition government.
The era of coalition governments in India begins in the late 1970s. The first coalition government in India was formed in 1977. Indira Gandhi declared Emergency in 1975 and unleashed repression. Emergency-era repression ended and the country held general elections in 1977.
1977 General Election: In 1977, most of the opposition parties came together against Indira Gandhi’s Congress(I). Many parties like Janata Party, CPM, Akali Dal, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Forward Bloc and DMK contested the election together. The Janata Party won 298 seats and captured the government. Indira Congress, Anna DMK alliance won only 189 seats. But in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK won 17 seats, Indira Congress 14 and CPI 3 in a total of 34 seats. The DMK won 2 and the Establishment Congress 3 out of a total of 5.
First Coalition Government – 2 Prime Ministers: In 1977, Morarji Desai took office as the first Prime Minister in the country’s first coalition government. But Morarji Desai could not run this coalition government successfully. Thus Charan Singh served a short term as Prime Minister with the support of Congress to force Morarji Desai to resign. Morarji Desai was the Prime Minister for a total of 2 years and 170 days and Saransingh for a total of 179 days. India’s first coalition government then fell.
VP Singh Era: From 1980 to 1989, the Congress Party in India was once again an unshakeable superpower. VP Singh was Rajiv Gandhi’s right-hand man when he became Prime Minister in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections. VP Singh was the Minister of Finance and Defense. VP Singh raised a voice of revolt against Rajiv Gandhi’s Boburs cannon purchase irregularities when he was the Defense Minister. Due to this, VP Singh was dismissed from the Congress. At that time the parties named Janata Party, Jana Morcha, Lok Dal and Congress (S) came together to form ‘Janata Dal’ under the leadership of VP Singh. At that time, the National Front was formed along with the strong state parties DMK, Telugu Desam (NTR) and Assam Kana Parishad. This is the beginning of a chapter for the 2nd coalition government in India.
1989 General Election: In 1989 the country faced a general election. Then the field was Congress vs National Front. Congress won 197 seats in the election. BJP’s Janata Dal won 143 seats. BJP 85; CPM 33; CPI won 12 seats. In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK-Congress formed a coalition and won a total of 38 seats. AIADMK contested 11 seats and won all. DMK did not win a single seat. The CPI, which was in the DMK alliance, won 1 constituency.
2nd coalition overthrow story: In 1989 elections, even though the Congress won more seats, the BJP and the Left jointly supported the formation of a National Front government led by VP Singh. Thus the National Front Government became the 2nd coalition government in the country. Devilal was first nominated by VP Singh as Prime Minister. Later VP Singh became Prime Minister unanimously. At that time, the Mandal Commission’s recommendation of 27% reservation in central government jobs for other backward classes (OBCs) came into effect. It was then that Advani conducted a Rathayatra to the Ayodhya Ram temple. VP Singh served as Prime Minister from 2 December 1989 to 10 November 1990. The VP Singh government was toppled after the BJP withdrew support for the National Front government. After this, the new coalition government led by the Congress led by Janata Dal (Socialist) Chandrasekhar lasted only a few months. Later, general elections were held to topple the Chandrasekhar government.
1996 General Election: After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, a strong Congress government was formed under the leadership of Narasimha Rao. After 5 years in 1996 no party got a majority. At that time BJP won maximum 161 seats and was called to form the government. But Vajpayee resigned after 13 days without proving majority.
United Front Government and 2 Prime Ministers: Following this, the DMK and the Left formed a new coalition called the United Front. The United Front 4th coalition government was formed with support from outside the Congress party. Deve Gowda served as its Prime Minister. It decided to withdraw support for this government. As a result, Deve Gowda resigned and IK Gujral became the Prime Minister. This government also did not last. Gujral resigned as Prime Minister on 28 November 1997 after the Congress withdrew support.
The 5th coalition government toppled within a year: In 1998, the country again faced general elections. The National Democratic Alliance formed the 5th coalition government of the country with the support of BJP, AIADMK and Telugu Desam. But this coalition rule did not last as the AIADMK withdrew its support within a year.
First coalition rule lasting 5 years: Another general election was held in 1999. In this election, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance consisted of DMK, Shiv Sena, United Janata Dal, Biju Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress, BMC, Madhyamik, National Conference Party, Akali Dal and Assam Kana Parishad. A General Action Plan was formulated and the National Democratic Alliance Government i.e. the 6th coalition government of the country was formed. This coalition government is the first coalition government to complete 5 years.
10 years of coalition rule: No party got a majority in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. While Congress won 145 seats and BJP 138 seats, a new alliance called United Progressive Alliance was formed with the support of DMK, the Left and others and the 7th coalition government of the country was formed. Manmohan Singh served as Prime Minister. This coalition government also ruled for 5 years completely. IMU regime is the 2nd coalition government of India to complete 5 years. In the 2009 elections as well, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance formed a coalition government. Manmohan Singh was still the Prime Minister. The 8th coalition government of the country also completed 5 years.
BJP’s NDA rule: But in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP got more than 272 seats required for majority. However, the BJP also gave representation to its NDA parties in the cabinet. In 2014, the BJP had won 10 seats short of the majority i.e. 282 seats. BJP had won 303 seats in 2019. Despite this, the BJP ruled with coalition parties.
New coalition rule at the mercy of alliances again: BJP, Congress do not have majority in current elections. Thus the pre-2014 situation has developed. BJP, which has won 240 seats, has to run the new coalition government again at the mercy of the alliance parties. History of India is that even if he is re-elected as Prime Minister, the ‘coalition’ parties are the knives hanging over the head of his post and coalition government.
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