What is coalition government
Coalition government is defined as when several political parties join hands to form a government and exercise political power based on a common agreed programme.
Coalitions usually occur in modern parliaments when no single political party gets clear majority.
Features Of Coalition Government:
A coalition implies the existence of at least two parties to form government.
Coalition politics is not a static but a dynamic affair as coalition players and groups dissolve and form new ones.
A coalition government works based on a minimum programme, which may not satisfy aspirations of all the members of the coalition government.
The pre-poll coalition is considerably advantageous because it provides a common platform for the parties to woo the electorate based on a joint manifesto.
The post-election union is intended to enable constituents to share political power and run the government.
Impact of coalition governments on economic reforms in India
When there is a single majority ruling party in the centre, it can have a salutary effect on the trajectory of economic reforms in India.
But, when there is a coalition government at the centre, the impact of various viewpoints (regional parties) that are part of the coalition plays a key role in the initiatives of the government and building consensus among the different parties becomes challenging, which greatly affects the policy decisions of the central government.
The V.P. Singh government had six committees to examine the most pressing issues of the time.
These evolved and in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, they took the form of ‘Group of Ministers’, and they continued in the UPA era too.
When it comes to economic reforms history, coalition governments have worked better.
Coalition vs. Single-party Governments
In a single-party government, there have been decisions, such as the farm laws, which were taken without getting everyone on board.
Something like that would not have probably happened in a coalition because there would have been greater dialogue.
Institutions that are meant to facilitate and promote Centre-State relations are more activated in coalition governments.
That is because the allies are often regional parties.
Institutions that are meant to facilitate and promote Centre-State relations are more activated in coalition governments.
That is because the allies are often regional parties.
Coalition governments also affect policies.
It could also lead to policy instability as getting everyone on board while formulating policies becomes a matter of great effort in the alliance.
While there’s nothing to worry in single party govt.
The coalition government remains subject to pulls and pressures, as coalition partners go for bargaining.
As a result, some coalitions fail unless all partners are on board.
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