Politics and Policies of India's Coalition Governments at the Central Level: A Critical Review of National-regional Party Relations (2004–2024)

The transformation of India's parliamentary system from single-party dominance to a multi-party coalition framework marks a profound shift in post-colonial democratic governance. This paper critically examines the policies and determinants of coalition governments at the central level from 2004 to 2024. Employing a historical institutionalist approach and empirical electoral analysis, it delineates three phases: the decentralized, consensus-driven UPA, 2004–2014; the centralized, majoritarian NDA, 2014–2024; and the resurgence of coalition dependence after the 2024 elections. Focusing on national-regional party relations, the study analyses how coalition compulsions shaped public policy, fiscal federalism, and institutional autonomy. It compares the UPA's rights-based welfare model with the NDA's developmental and majoritarian agenda, including GST, Article 370 abrogation, and Farm Laws. Drawing on Riker's Coalition Theory and Yadav's democratic upsurge framework, the paper argues that regional parties serve as vital veto players and structural shock-absorbers in India's asymmetrical federation. It concludes that coalition bargaining remains essential for managing India's socio-cultural diversity.