Question

Coalition government is a _____________.
A. Government of more than two political parties in case no single party get the majority
B. Government of two political parties
C. Government of two or more regional parties
D. Government of two or more national parties

Answer 1

Hint: Members of all the parties who formed a coalition government are appointed to a cabinet. The very first coalition government to successfully complete its 5-year term is the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Complete Step By Step Answer: Coalition government consists of more than two parties when none of the parties secures an absolute majority in the general election. It is a group of advisors formed when different political parties or regional parties come together to supervise and regulate the country.

Elections in 1989 led to the era of coalitions with the defeat of the Congress party. After 1989, several political parties emerged in such a way that no single party could get an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha. In this era, regional parties played a crucial role in forming the ruling alliance. Thus, with the election of 1989, a long phase of coalition politics began in India. Since then there have been nine 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. In this phase, any government could be formed only with the participation or support of many regional parties.

Thus, the correct answer is option (A). A coalition government can consist of 13 separate parties like the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance.

Note: The UPA, a coalition government was founded by Sonia Gandhi, the President of the Indian National Congress, after the 14th Lok Sabha (general) elections 2004. Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Congress Party opted out of the premiership and recommended Manmohan Singh for the post.