Democratic Upsurge and Coalition Politics

About this unit

From the late 1980s Indian politics changed in important ways. No single party won a majority in the Lok Sabha in the elections from 1989 to 2009, and coalition governments became the norm. Backward castes, Dalits and other groups that had been less represented became more active voters, and regional parties gained a share in national power. This unit covers the end of Congress dominance, the rise of new parties such as the Janata Dal and the BJP, the Mandal issue, and the working of coalition governments.

Key ideas

• The 1989 election ended the era of single-party majorities that had marked most earlier elections.
• The National Front government (1989) was formed with outside support from the BJP and the Left parties.
• The implementation of the Mandal Commission's recommendations in 1990 changed the politics of caste.
• The United Front, the NDA and the UPA were the main coalition arrangements of this period.
• Political scientists describe a wider participation of lower-caste, rural and poorer voters as a democratic upsurge.
• A broad consensus emerged on economic reforms, the claims of backward castes and the role of state-level parties.

How to prepare

Make a table (in your notebook) of governments from 1989 to 2014 with the Prime Minister, the coalition and the main supporting parties. Learn the meaning of “outside support” and the elements of the new consensus. Expect questions on why coalition politics emerged and on the effects of the Mandal decision.