United Progressive Alliance
All you want to know about United Progressive Alliance
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is the present ruling coalition of political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress (INC), which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the parliament of India). The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, and the Council of Ministers are drawn from members of the UPA. INC's President, Sonia Gandhi, serves as the Chairperson of the UPA.
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History
The UPA was formed soon after the 2004 general elections after it became clear that the previous ruling coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (or the NDA) had been defeated. The NDA had got only 169 MPs[1] in the 543 member 14th Lok Sabha:
- Bhartiya Janata Party (130 MPs)
- Shiv Sena - Maharashtra (12 MPs)
- Janata Dal (United) - Bihar and Karnataka (8 MPs)
- Biju Janata Dal - Orissa (11 MPs)
- Shiromani Akali Dal faction led by Parkash Singh Badal- Punjab (8 MPs)
The Indian communist parties (called the Left Front), the Samajwadi Party with 39 (now 33) MPs and the Bahujan Samaj Party with 19 (now 17) MPs were other significant blocks that opted to support UPA at various phases of its 50 month rule.[2][3] The UPA did not enjoy a simple majority on its own in the parliament, rather it has relied on the external support given by these parties to ensure that it enjoys the confidence of the Indian parliament similar to the formula adopted by the previous minority governments of the United Front and the NDA.
An informal alliance had existed prior to the elections as several of the current constituent parties had developed seat-sharing agreements in many states. However, it was only after the election that the results of negotiations between parties were announced. The UPA's policies were initially guided by a common minimum programme that the alliance hammered out with fruitful consultations with Jyoti Basu and Harkishan Singh Surjeet of the 59 member Left Front[4]. Hence, government policies were generally perceived as center-left, reflecting the centrist policies of the INC and the Left.
In the state of Jharkhand, the constituents of the UPA are by mutual agreement supporting the government led by an independent politician, Madhu Koda.[5]
At present the UPA is no longer supported by the Left parties. It survived a vote of confidence in the parliament on 22 July 2008 and is expected to last at least till its term expires in 2009.
Initial support
Initially, the United Progressive Alliance was given external support from the Left Front which totaled 59 MPs. Similar external support was also promised by several smaller parties that were not a member of any coalition, including the Samajwadi Party with 39 MPs, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam with 4 MPs , the Janata Dal (Secular) with 3 MPs, and Bahujan Samaj Party with 19 MPs, who promised to support the government if it faced a vote of confidence. Nevertheless, these parties were not a part of the government. The UPA thus had at least 335 MPs out of 543 supporting it at the time of its formation.
The Left parties, despite ideological differences with the Congress, supported the UPA to ensure a secular government and avoid a BJP-dominated government.[6]
Current constituents
Due to the volatile nature of coalition politics in India, the constituents of the UPA have been wavering. As of July 15, 2008 they were:[7]
- Indian National Congress (153 MPs) (Out of these 1 MP is now a rebel and another is a non-voting member)
- Rashtriya Janata Dal (24 MPs)
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (16 MPs)
- Nationalist Congress Party (11 MPs)
- Pattali Makkal Katchi (6 MPs)
- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (5 MPs)
- Lok Janshakti Party (4 MPs)
- Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (rebel faction) (2 MPs)[8]
- All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (1 MP)
- People's Democratic Party (1 MP)
- Republican Party of India (Athvale) (1 MP)
- Sikkim Democratic Front (1 MP)
- Indian Union Muslim League (1 MP)
Outside support is currently being offered by the Samajwadi Party (33 MPs), the Bharatiya Navshakti Party (1 MP), the National Conference (2 MPs)[9] and by the National Loktantrik Party (1 MP). In addition, rebel MPs from Biju Janata Dal , the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Janata Dal (United), the Telugu Desam Party and the independent MPs take the tally of UPA supporting MPs to 275.[10]
Withdrawals
Telangana Rashtra Samithi
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was the first party to quit the alliance, first when its ministers quit the Andhra Pradesh government, and finally when an official withdrawal was done at the national level by its president K. Chandrashekar Rao, who resigned his Lok Sabha seat.[11]
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), began its drift when it tied up with the UPA's rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) during the Tamil Nadu elections, and on March 16, 2007 officially withdrew support.[12][13].
Bahujan Samaj Party
On 21 June 2008, the Bahujan Samaj Party, or the BSP, with 17 seats, announced withdrawal of its support.[14]
Left Front
On 8 July 2008, Prakash Karat, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (or the CPI (M)), announced that the Left Front would be withdrawing support over the decision by the government to go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal, a Section 123 Agreement with the United States.[15].
Cabinet ministers in the government
As of 26 July 2008 the UPA has the following cabinet ministers in the Indian government[16]:
Vote of Confidence
The UPA faced it's first confidence vote in the Lok Sabha on 22 July 2008 after the CPI (M) led Left Front withdrew support over India approaching the IAEA for the Indo-US nuclear deal. The vote was so crucial that the UPA and the opposition parties summoned MPs from their sick beds and even from prison cells to take part in the vote, which was eventually won by the Government.[17]
See also
References
- ^ Small parties, independents in great demand.
- ^ Originally the SP had 39 MPs. 6 MPs defied party whip and have been expelled from the party.
- ^ Lok Sabha members
- ^ Congress pins hopes on Jyoti Basu-India-The Times of India
- ^ Madhu Koda to be next Jharkhand CM. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
- ^ "Secular govt a priority: Basu." Rediff Election Bureau 13 May 2004.
- ^ Small parties, independents in great demand. Retrieved on July 15, 2008.
- ^ Indian Prez summons PM: Trust vote likely on July 21 or 22, Singh garners enough votes. Retrieved on July 15, 2008
- ^ Inching closer to vote, govt safe@272 NDTV
- ^ Abstentions and cross-voting.... Retreieved on July 25, 2008.
- ^ TRS withdraws support to the UPA. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
- ^ Vaiko withdraws support. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
- ^ [Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
- ^ Mayawati withdraws support to UPA government. Retrieved on June 21, 2008.
- ^ Left pulls out, will meet President Patil on Wednesday
- ^ List of Council of Ministers. Retrieved on 26 July 2008.
- ^ "Indian government survives vote", BBC (July 22, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
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