COALITION GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL SYSTEM IN INDIA

The breakdown of the national consensus on a parliamentary majority in India, a phenomena which is characteristic of the function of parliamentary governments in the developing countries, has led to a new trend, that is coalition, to identify the federal division of powers with sub-national pluralis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of political science 2003-07, Vol.64 (3/4), p.167-190
Main Author: Khan, M.G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coalition governments
Coalitions
Federalism
Federation
Governance
Government
Government coalitions
Government relations
Government structure
India
National politics
Parliamentary system
Party politics
Political Change
Political parties
Political Power
Political science
Political Systems
State government
State structure
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Summary:The breakdown of the national consensus on a parliamentary majority in India, a phenomena which is characteristic of the function of parliamentary governments in the developing countries, has led to a new trend, that is coalition, to identify the federal division of powers with sub-national pluralism. Coalitions have become an inevitable and indispensable part of the national and regional politics in the present politics of India, and coalitions in India primarily owe their existence to a set of determined people, who combine to govern for personal and party ends. The unifying force is power. It is the pooling of ambitions. That at present scenario regional parties are sharing power at the Centre and helping in the process of consensus is not true. In fact, they do not necessarily participate in governance of the country. They stay parochial in their outlook. Populism is their method to gather support. Thus the regional parties have come to stay in the Indian political system and their relevance is not only confined to their respective states but it also extends to the national scene. The federal approach in governance is the result of the assertion of the regional parties. Their participation in the coalition government is the reinforcement of the "periphery" and federal governance at the centre. The BJP led coalition government at the centre today is trying to be more federal in its organization and the use of Article 356 is to the minimum as compared to one party dominant system in India.
ISSN:0019-5510