Coalition Government

Question 1

Describe a coalition government.

Answer 1

A coalition government is a political
arrangement where multiple parties
collaborate to form a government when no
single party secures a clear majority in the
legislature

Question 2

How do coalition governments form in India?

Answer 2

Coalition governments in India can form
through pre-election alliances, where parties
collaborate before elections, or post-election
coalitions, where parties negotiate after
election results.

Question 3

Define the significance of coalition
governments.

Answer 3

Coalition governments are significant because
they provide broader representation,
establish checks and balances among
partners, and promote consensus building
through negotiation and compromise.

Question 4

What factors contribute to the formation of
coalition governments in India?

Answer 4

Factors contributing to coalition governments
in India include the multi-party system,
regional diversity, the rise of state parties,
and anti-incumbency factors.

Question 5

How do pre-election alliances differ from postelection coalitions?

Answer 5

Pre-election alliances involve parties forming
coalitions before elections to present a united
front, while post-election coalitions involve
negotiations to form a government after
election results.

Question 6

Explain the role of coalition partners in a
coalition government.

Answer 6

Coalition partners can act as a check on each
other, which helps reduce the risk of
authoritarianism and hasty policy decisions.

Question 7

What is the potential impact of coalition
governments on policy-making?

Answer 7

Coalition governments can lead to more
inclusive policies and programs due to the
representation of a wider range of interests
and regions.

Question 8

Describe the role of Lok Sabha in coalition
governments

Answer 8

Coalition governments result in more vibrant
and substantive debates in the Lok Sabha,
leading to increased accountability of the
government.

Question 9

Define a challenge posed by coalition
governments regarding political stability.

Answer 9

Divergent interests of coalition partners can
lead to frequent disagreements and
government instability, exemplified by the fall
of the first NDA government in 1998 after just
13 months.

Question 10

How can coalition dynamics affect long-term
strategies?

Answer 10

Frequent changes in coalition dynamics can
hinder the implementation of long-term
strategies, such as the inconsistent policies in
the education sector due to changes in the
Human Resource Development Ministry from
2004 to 2014.

Question 11

How does cooperative federalism relate to
coalition governments?

Answer 11

Coalition governments often include regional
parties, resulting in increased bargaining
power of states and a decentralized approach
to governance.

Question 12

What is a potential compromise that political
parties may face in a coalition?

Answer 12

Political parties may have to dilute their core
ideologies to maintain the coalition.

Question 13

Explain the concept of policy paralysis in
coalition governments

Answer 13

Decision-making can be slow due to the need
for consensus among coalition partners, as
seen when Left parties withdrew support from
the UPA-I government over the Indo-US
nuclear deal in 2008.

Question 14

Describe the influence of regionalism in
coalition governments.

Answer 14

Regional parties in coalitions often leverage
their position to push for state-specific
benefits and allocation of resources to satisfy
regional allies.

Question 15

How can coalition dynamics impact foreign
policy decisions?

Answer 15

Coalition dynamics can influence foreign
policy decisions, particularly regarding
regional issues

Question 16

Describe the concept of a constructive vote of
no-confidence.

Answer 16

A constructive vote of no-confidence requires
that a motion of no-confidence be
accompanied by a proposal for an alternative
leader, which is voted on simultaneously.

Question 17

How can political stability be achieved
according to the NCRWC

Answer 17

Political stability can be achieved by
amending the Rules of Procedure of the
Legislatures to adopt a system of constructive
vote of no-confidence.

Question 18

Define the role of the Inter-State Council in
national policy formulation.

Answer 18

The Inter-State Council is a constitutional
body that can be used in national policy
formulation to create strategies that
transcend coalition politics.

Question 19

What mechanism is proposed for the election
of the Prime Minister?

Answer 19

A mechanism is proposed to elect the Leader
of Lok Sabha simultaneously with the election
of the Speaker, who may then be appointed
as the Prime Minister.

Question 20

How should transparency in coalition
functioning be improved?

Answer 20

Transparency in coalition functioning can be
improved by mandating regular public
reporting on the progress of the Common
Minimum Program implementation and
introducing coalition impact assessments for
major policy decisions.

Question 21

What is the significance of coalition impact
assessments?

Answer 21

Coalition impact assessments are significant
as they evaluate the effects of major policy
decisions made by coalitions, ensuring
accountability and transparency.

Question 22

Explain the importance of long-term policy
strategies in coalition politics.

Answer 22

Long-term policy strategies are important in
coalition politics as they help in formulating
consistent national policies that are not
influenced by the changing dynamics of
coalition alignments.

Question 23

What should happen if parties in a coalition
realign midstream?

Answer 23

If parties in a coalition realign midstream, the
members of those parties should seek a fresh
mandate from the electorate.