Coalition Politics and Policy Stability in India: An Institutional Assessment

Abstract

Coalition governments have been a defining feature of Indian politics since the late 1980s. Conventional political discourse often associates coalition politics with instability, policy paralysis, and weak governance. This paper challenges that assumption by examining coalition politics in India through an institutional lens. Using an original Coalition Stability Index (CSI), the study evaluates legislative coordination, executive continuity, and policy outcomes during coalition governments between 1996 and 2011. The paper argues that coalition politics in India did not undermine governance; instead, it institutionalised negotiated policymaking and contributed to policy stability through consensus-driven mechanisms. The findings contribute to broader debates on democratic governance and coalition politics in plural societies.