After a decade of brute majority rule under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, coalition politics has returned to Indian politics. This will be a first for Modi, who has never needed to rely on allies since his first Assembly election victory in Gujarat.
The phrase "coalition dharma" was coined by BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and it is this principle that Modi will now have to follow. Running a coalition government is a delicate balancing act, and Vajpayee, from whom Modi inherited the political mantle, was the ideal leader to navigate these waters.
Vajpayee's Legacy and the NDA
Vajpayee's NDA government was the first non-Congress alliance to complete a full five-year term in India's history. However, when Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, it marked a clean break in Indian politics. The BJP had enough seats to not depend on any ally for survival, a stark contrast to the decades of coalition governments that had become the norm.
The Modi Era and Economic Reforms
Modi's decisive mandate in 2014 changed Indian politics. Gone were the days when allies used to hold the prime minister to ransom. Major reforms were possible solely due to the BJP's full majority, and the party even fell out with several allies, notably Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal.
Challenges Ahead
However, the return of coalition politics presents new challenges for Modi. Vajpayee had to set aside the BJP's core issues of constructing a Ram Temple, abrogating Article 370, and implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) when running a coalition government. In the new NDA, the BJP's agenda of the UCC and One Nation One Election may also be put on the backburner.
The role of the NDA as an alliance, which had been weakened in recent years, may also see a revival. Apart from demands for different portfolios, the alliance partners will have a say in any policy changes and reforms introduced by the government, as well as who from the BJP will lead certain ministries and high-ranking official appointments.
The Road Ahead
For the BJP, Modi, Amit Shah, and other senior leadership, they will always have to seek agreement from key partners before introducing any new policies, changes, or reforms. These coalition partners will need to be kept in good humor, which will require the Vajpayee touch.
While the Indian economy is most likely to continue growing at the same or even a greater pace, as history shows it has performed better under coalition governments, the uncertainty of this new coalition era remains to be seen. Modi, who was driving the economy with singular resolve to make it the world's third largest, will now have to navigate the challenges of coalition politics.
As the BJP navigates this new era, one thing is clear: coalition dharma has returned to Indian politics, and Modi will have to draw on Vajpayee's legacy to lead the nation forward.
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