8.2.2. Alliance Politics

The nineties also saw the emergence of powerful parties and movements that represented the Dalit and backward castes (Other Backward Classes or OBCs). Many of these parties represented powerful regional assertion as well. These parties played an important role in the United Front government that came to power in 1996. The United Front was similar to the National Front of 1989 for it included Janata Dal and several regional parties. This time the BJP did not support the government. The United Front government was supported by the Congress.

In the 1990s, India saw the rise of new political parties that represented Dalit and OBC communities. These groups were significant because they played a major role in the United Front government formed in 1996. This government was akin to the National Front government from 1989, but now, the BJP chose not to support it—indicating a shift in political alliances. This time, the Congress party stepped in to support the United Front, reflecting how political affiliations were dynamically changing based on emerging issues and groups in society.

Think of a basketball team where members have come together from diverse backgrounds, each bringing different strengths to the game. Just like this team might strategically form alliances to win games, the political parties in the 1990s formed alliances based on their strengths and support from various communities.

In 1989, both the Left and the BJP supported the National Front Government because they wanted to keep the Congress out of power. In 1996, the Left continued to support the non-Congress government but this time the Congress, supported it, as both the Congress and the Left wanted to keep the BJP out of power.

The political landscape between 1989 and 1996 showcased strategic shifts among parties. Initially, in 1989, the Left parties and BJP came together to oppose the Congress party. However, by 1996, political dynamics shifted as both the Congress and Left parties found common ground, primarily to prevent the BJP from gaining power. This illustrates how political alliances can change based on the prevailing priorities of parties—sometimes supporting each other even if they traditionally oppose each other.

Imagine a group project where two friends typically compete but team up to complete an important assignment. By setting aside their differences, they work together to achieve a common goal, similar to how these political parties collaborated to block a shared adversary.

They did not succeed for long, as the BJP continued to consolidate its position in the elections of 1991 and 1996. It emerged as the largest party in the 1996 election and was invited to form the government. But most other parties were opposed to its policies and therefore, the BJP government could not secure a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Throughout the early 90s, the BJP solidified its political strength, becoming the largest party in the Lok Sabha elections of 1996. Despite this, they faced opposition from numerous other parties, preventing them from achieving a majority. This scenario reflects a common challenge in coalition politics where one party, despite being the 'largest,' may struggle to govern effectively without a clear consensus or majority support among other parties.

Consider a sports team that has the most talented player but struggles because the rest of the team doesn’t work well together. The player cannot win games alone and needs a cohesive team to succeed, mirroring how BJP needed alliances to form a stable government.

Thus, with the elections of 1989, a long phase of coalition politics began in India. Since then, there have been eleven governments at the Centre, all of which have either been coalition governments or minority governments supported by other parties, which did not join the government.

The pattern of coalition politics started in India around 1989, meaning that most governments formed after this period required collaboration from multiple parties. In fact, eleven governments were formed at the Centre, all functioning as coalitions or minority governments supported by others. Coalition politics often arises in environments where no single party can secure an outright majority, leading to a requirement for collaboration to govern.

Think of a potluck dinner where everyone brings a dish. If one person only brings dessert, there won't be enough food for everyone, and the dinner won't be successful. Similarly, coalition governments need contributions from various parties to ensure that the needs of the entire population are met effectively.

This development initiated an era of coalition governments at the Centre, in which regional parties played a crucial role in forming ruling alliances but in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP got clear majority on its own.

The rise of coalition politics led to many regional parties collaborating to form stable governments. However, a significant turning point occurred in the 2014 and 2019 elections, when the BJP achieved a majority without needing to rely on coalition partners. This marked a substantial shift back towards a singular leadership structure, differing from the previously required collaboration that characterized the preceding decades.

Envision a community project where, for years, various groups collaborated to achieve common goals. However, one organization suddenly grows large enough to execute the entire project independently. This change signifies a substantial shift in the dynamics of collaboration and leadership.

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