The democratic republic of India boasts of a very vibrant party system, which has been in existence even before the Independence of the nation in 1947. The Indian party system has been very dynamic and has seen different phases historically, going from the period of Congress dominance, its decline, the subsequent phase of coalition politics and the contemporary period, which could be seen as the return of dominance under the BJP. The paper explores the transformations that have occurred in the Indian party system since the late 1980s, resulting in the rise of coalition politics, thus fundamentally altering the nature of governance and political competition. It further examines the evolution, functioning, and implications of coalition politics in India from 1989 to the present, arguing that coalition governments emerged as a structural necessity due to the decline of single-party dominance and the increasing salience of regional and identity-based politics. While coalitions have enhanced representativeness and deepened federalism, they have also posed challenges in terms of policy coherence, political stability, and governance efficiency. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, the paper traces key coalition phases, evaluates their performance, and assesses their continuing relevance in an era increasingly characterised by the dominance of a single national party. The study concludes that coalition politics, despite its limitations, remains an integral feature of India’s democratic landscape.
Coalition Politics, Indian Party System, Regional Parties, Governance, Federalism
. Coalition Politics in India Since 1989: Trends, Patterns and Challenges. Indian Journal of Modern Research and Reviews. 2026; 4(4):63-68
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