Political alliance

A political alliance, also known as a coalition or bloc, is cooperation by members of different political parties, in countries with a parliamentary system, on a common agenda of some kind. This usually involves formal agreements between two or more entire parties. An alliance is usually especially beneficial to the parties concerned during and immediately after elections – due to characteristics of the electoral systems concerned (e.g. allowing each party to clear election thresholds) and/or allowing parties to participate in formation of a government after elections. These may break up quickly, or hold together for decades becoming the de facto norm, operating almost as a single unit. Alliances may also form prior to elections in an effort to reduce uncertainty following the election.[1]

Coalition governments are formed when a political alliance comes to power, or when only a plurality (not a majority) has not been reached and several parties must work together to govern. One of the peculiarities of such a method of governance results in minister without portfolio. There are several reasons as to why the Alliance government system is getting special significance at present.

1. Due to increase in the number of political parties.
2. Due to decrease in the significance of a single political parties.
3. After spending so many thousands of crores of public money in holding an election if no stable government can be formed due to the complexities that arise for not getting the absolute majority by any of the parties taking a part in the election, in such a circumstances forming of the alliance or coalition government is the only alternative left to avoid spending of public money again by holding another election.