5.2.5. Coalitions

The elections of 1967 brought into picture the phenomenon of coalitions. Since no single party had got majority, various non-Congress parties came together to form joint legislative parties (called Samyukt Vidhayak Dal in Hindi) that supported non-Congress governments. That is why these governments came to be described as SVD governments.

In the 1967 elections, no political party achieved an outright majority. Consequently, multiple smaller parties that opposed the dominant Congress party decided to join forces and create coalitions. These coalitions were known as Samyukt Vidhayak Dal (SVD). This approach was necessary because uniting their resources increased their chances of forming a stable government. Coalitions marked a shift in Indian politics, showcasing a move away from single-party dominance to multi-party collaboration.

Imagine a soccer tournament where no single team wins all the matches. Instead, several smaller teams decide to collaborate to form a stronger team. By combining their players and strategies, they stand a better chance of winning the tournament against a larger, stronger opponent.

In most of these cases the coalition partners were ideologically incongruent. The SVD government in Bihar, for instance, included the two socialist parties – SSP and the PSP – along with the CPI on the left and Jana Sangh on the right.

The groups that formed coalitions after the 1967 elections often had different and sometimes conflicting ideologies. For example, in Bihar, socialist parties that typically share similar ideas about wealth distribution collaborated with the more conservative Jana Sangh, which is on the right side of the political spectrum. This diversity in ideology indicates that many different parties were willing to set aside their differences in pursuit of a common goal – to displace the Congress government in power.

Think of it like a school project where students from different backgrounds come together. One might prefer a structured approach, while another favors creativity. Even though their methods differ, they team up for a common grade, using their varied strengths to achieve success.

Another important feature of the politics after the 1967 election was the role played by defections in the making and unmaking of governments in the States.

Post-1967 elections, the phenomenon of 'defections' became prominent. Defections occur when elected officials leave their party to join another, which significantly impacted coalition governments. Politicians switching sides could strengthen or weaken governments, often leading to instability, as alliances could dissolve suddenly if key members changed loyalties.

Imagine a game of tug-of-war where players from one side start joining the other team midway. This could weaken the original team and cause it to lose strength, illustrating how defections can sway the balance of power in politics.

The expression ‘aya ram, gaya ram’ became popular in the political vocabulary in India to describe the practice of frequent floor-crossing by legislators.

The phrase 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram' originated from a specific anecdote about a politician named Gaya Lal, who switched parties multiple times in a very short span. This exemplified the instability and frequent party switching that characterized the political landscape after the 1967 elections, showcasing the unpredictable nature of alliances.

Think of a person who constantly changes teams in a relay race. This instability can confuse other participants and undermine the team's chances of success. Similarly, frequent party-switching in politics can lead to a lack of trust and cohesiveness among political groups.

But there was no substitute as yet. Most non-Congress coalition governments in the States did not survive for long. They lost majority, and either new combinations were formed or President’s rule had to be imposed.

Despite the initial success of coalition governments, they often struggled to maintain stability. Many failed to last due to internal disagreements, lack of a united vision, or the inability to govern effectively. Consequently, when coalitions collapsed, the President of India sometimes had to intervene to establish direct federal administration, known as President’s rule.

Consider a shared rental situation among roommates. If they can't agree on house rules or responsibilities, conflicts can lead to a breakdown of their arrangement, forcing the landlord (analogous to the President) to step in and manage the property until a stable situation is established.

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