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Alliances in Indian Politics
By: Sweta SumanIn the 1950s and 60s, the Congress party governed the country with virtually no Opposition. This led to the leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia to develop the theory of `political approximation` between non-Congress parties. This helped coalesce the Opposition against the Congress and in the fourth general elections Samyakta Vidhayak Dal (SVM) was able to form government in four states.
By: Sweta Suman
In the 1950s and 60s, the Congress party governed the country with virtually no Opposition. This led to the leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia to develop the theory of ‘political approximation’ between non-Congress parties. This helped coalesce the Opposition against the Congress and in the fourth general elections Samyakta Vidhayak Dal (SVM) was able to form government in four states. In 1966, power passed to Nehru`s daughter, Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977.
1967 - Congress, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, retained power but suffered setbacks in the first general elections held after Nehru`s death in 1964. It won 283 out of 520 seats. The Swatantra Party (44 seats), the BJS (35) and two socialist groups with 46 seats emerged as the strongest opposition groups in this election. In 1975, beset with deepening political and economic problems, Mrs. Gandhi declared a state of emergency and suspended many civil liberties. Seeking a mandate at the polls for her policies, she called for elections in 1977, only to be defeated by Moraji Desai, who headed the Janata Party, an amalgam of five opposition parties. 1977 - India holds general election after a 19-month-long Emergency rule that led to suspension of civil rights. The Congress party was routed for the first time in independent India`s history by a motley opposition group of former Congressmen, socialists, Hindu nationalists and pro-farmer parties under one umbrella, called the Janata Party. Morarji Desai, a conservative former Congressman, becomes India`s first non-Congress premier. The Janata Party won 295 out of 542 seats. The Congress won only 154.
In 1979, Desai`s Government crumbled. Charan Singh formed an interim government, which was followed by Mrs. Gandhi`s return to power in January 1980. On October 31, 1984, Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated, and her son, Rajiv, was chosen by the Congress (I) Party to take her place. His government was brought down in 1989 by allegations of corruption and was followed by V.P. Singh and then Chandra Shekhar. In the 1989 elections, although Rajiv Gandhi and Congress won more seats in the 1989 elections than any other single party, he was unable to form a government with a clear majority. The Janata Dal, a union of opposition parties, was able to form a government with the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the right and the Communists on the left. This loose coalition collapsed in November 1990, and the government was controlled for a short period by a breakaway Janata Dal group supported by Congress (I), with Chandra Shekhar as Prime Minister. That alliance also collapsed, resulting in national elections in June 1991.
National Front 1989 - Elections result in a hung parliament. The Congress won 197 seats to return as the largest parliamentary group, but the government is formed by the National Front, a coalition of socialist Janata Dal (142 seats) and regional groups. Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh`s minority coalition collapses 11 months later when Hindu nationalist BJP (86 seats) ends support. Congress props up a breakaway socialist government headed by Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar for four months. 1991 - Congress returns to power in mid-term elections under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao after Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
In the elections, Congress (I) won 213 parliamentary seats and put together a coalition, returning to power under the leadership of P.V. Narasimha Rao. This Congress-led government, which served a full 5-year term, initiated a gradual process of economic liberalization and reform, which has opened the Indian economy to global trade and investment. India`s domestic politics also took new shape, as traditional alignments by caste, creed, and ethnicity gave way to a plethora of small, regionally based political parties. The BJP emerges stronger with 120 seats, riding on a campaign to build the Ram temple at a disputed site where the Babri mosque stands in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
But with the withdrawal of support to the V P Singh govt in 1991 the loose bi-polarity which existed came to an end. It was also the beginning of anti-BJPism. The Advani rath yatra and the subsequent demolition of Babri Masjid had a deep impact on politics. It was the BJP with its aggressive brand of Hindutva which was perceived by political parties as the real threat. 1996 - Congress slumps to its worst-ever defeat, winning only 140 seats in a badly fragmented parliament. The BJP (161 seats) forms a 12-day minority government under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but loses power as others unite. For 18 months, Congress serves as a key supporter to two shaky governments of Centre-Left United Front headed by H.D. Deve Gowda and Inder Kumar Gujral.
United Front 1996: The final months of the Rao-led government in the spring of 1996 were marred by several major political corruption scandals, which contributed to the worst electoral performance by the Congress Party in its history. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged from the May 1996 national elections as the single-largest party in the Lok Sabha but without enough strength to prove a majority on the floor of that Parliament.
With all political parties wishing to avoid another round of elections, a 14-party coalition led by the Janata Dal emerged to form a government known as the United Front, under the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, H.D. Deve Gowda. His government lasted less than a year, as the leader of the Congress Party withdrew his support in March 1997. Inder Kumar Gujral replaced Deve Gowda as the consensus choice for Prime Minister of a 16-party United Front coalition. In November 1997, the Congress Party again withdrew support for the United Front. New elections in February 1998 brought the BJP the largest number of seats in Parliament--182--but fell far short of a majority.
1998 - Mid-term elections see another fragmented parliament, but BJP emerges stronger with 182 seats. Vajpayee forms a minority coalition with regional groups but loses majority after 13 months when key regional ally the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalitha decides to withdraw support. Another mid-term election is called after Congress fails to form an alternative governement.
1999 – 2004: NDA Government
In the 1950s and 60s, the Congress party governed the country with virtually no Opposition. This led to the leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia to develop the theory of ‘political approximation’ between non-Congress parties. This helped coalesce the Opposition against the Congress and in the fourth general elections Samyakta Vidhayak Dal (SVM) was able to form government in four states. In 1966, power passed to Nehru`s daughter, Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977.
1967 - Congress, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, retained power but suffered setbacks in the first general elections held after Nehru`s death in 1964. It won 283 out of 520 seats. The Swatantra Party (44 seats), the BJS (35) and two socialist groups with 46 seats emerged as the strongest opposition groups in this election. In 1975, beset with deepening political and economic problems, Mrs. Gandhi declared a state of emergency and suspended many civil liberties. Seeking a mandate at the polls for her policies, she called for elections in 1977, only to be defeated by Moraji Desai, who headed the Janata Party, an amalgam of five opposition parties. 1977 - India holds general election after a 19-month-long Emergency rule that led to suspension of civil rights. The Congress party was routed for the first time in independent India`s history by a motley opposition group of former Congressmen, socialists, Hindu nationalists and pro-farmer parties under one umbrella, called the Janata Party. Morarji Desai, a conservative former Congressman, becomes India`s first non-Congress premier. The Janata Party won 295 out of 542 seats. The Congress won only 154.
In 1979, Desai`s Government crumbled. Charan Singh formed an interim government, which was followed by Mrs. Gandhi`s return to power in January 1980. On October 31, 1984, Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated, and her son, Rajiv, was chosen by the Congress (I) Party to take her place. His government was brought down in 1989 by allegations of corruption and was followed by V.P. Singh and then Chandra Shekhar. In the 1989 elections, although Rajiv Gandhi and Congress won more seats in the 1989 elections than any other single party, he was unable to form a government with a clear majority. The Janata Dal, a union of opposition parties, was able to form a government with the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the right and the Communists on the left. This loose coalition collapsed in November 1990, and the government was controlled for a short period by a breakaway Janata Dal group supported by Congress (I), with Chandra Shekhar as Prime Minister. That alliance also collapsed, resulting in national elections in June 1991.
National Front 1989 - Elections result in a hung parliament. The Congress won 197 seats to return as the largest parliamentary group, but the government is formed by the National Front, a coalition of socialist Janata Dal (142 seats) and regional groups. Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh`s minority coalition collapses 11 months later when Hindu nationalist BJP (86 seats) ends support. Congress props up a breakaway socialist government headed by Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar for four months. 1991 - Congress returns to power in mid-term elections under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao after Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
In the elections, Congress (I) won 213 parliamentary seats and put together a coalition, returning to power under the leadership of P.V. Narasimha Rao. This Congress-led government, which served a full 5-year term, initiated a gradual process of economic liberalization and reform, which has opened the Indian economy to global trade and investment. India`s domestic politics also took new shape, as traditional alignments by caste, creed, and ethnicity gave way to a plethora of small, regionally based political parties. The BJP emerges stronger with 120 seats, riding on a campaign to build the Ram temple at a disputed site where the Babri mosque stands in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
But with the withdrawal of support to the V P Singh govt in 1991 the loose bi-polarity which existed came to an end. It was also the beginning of anti-BJPism. The Advani rath yatra and the subsequent demolition of Babri Masjid had a deep impact on politics. It was the BJP with its aggressive brand of Hindutva which was perceived by political parties as the real threat. 1996 - Congress slumps to its worst-ever defeat, winning only 140 seats in a badly fragmented parliament. The BJP (161 seats) forms a 12-day minority government under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but loses power as others unite. For 18 months, Congress serves as a key supporter to two shaky governments of Centre-Left United Front headed by H.D. Deve Gowda and Inder Kumar Gujral.
United Front 1996: The final months of the Rao-led government in the spring of 1996 were marred by several major political corruption scandals, which contributed to the worst electoral performance by the Congress Party in its history. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged from the May 1996 national elections as the single-largest party in the Lok Sabha but without enough strength to prove a majority on the floor of that Parliament.
With all political parties wishing to avoid another round of elections, a 14-party coalition led by the Janata Dal emerged to form a government known as the United Front, under the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, H.D. Deve Gowda. His government lasted less than a year, as the leader of the Congress Party withdrew his support in March 1997. Inder Kumar Gujral replaced Deve Gowda as the consensus choice for Prime Minister of a 16-party United Front coalition. In November 1997, the Congress Party again withdrew support for the United Front. New elections in February 1998 brought the BJP the largest number of seats in Parliament--182--but fell far short of a majority.
1998 - Mid-term elections see another fragmented parliament, but BJP emerges stronger with 182 seats. Vajpayee forms a minority coalition with regional groups but loses majority after 13 months when key regional ally the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalitha decides to withdraw support. Another mid-term election is called after Congress fails to form an alternative governement.
1999 – 2004: NDA Government