Key Points

The 1989 Lok Sabha elections marked the end of the 'Congress system' as the party lost its dominant position. Although it was the largest party with 197 seats, it did not form the government, initiating an era of coalition politics.

From 1989 to 2014, no single party secured a clear majority in the Lok Sabha. This period was characterized by coalition governments at the Centre, such as the National Front, United Front, NDA, and UPA, where regional parties played a crucial role.

In 1990, the National Front government led by V. P. Singh implemented the Mandal Commission's recommendation for 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in central government jobs. This decision led to widespread protests and reshaped Indian politics around caste identity.

Starting in 1991, India initiated major economic reforms, also known as liberalization, privatization, and globalization. These policies, started under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, radically changed the direction of the Indian economy from the one pursued since Independence.

The dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya became a central political issue in the late 1980s and 1990s. The movement, central to the BJP's politics of 'Hindutva', significantly influenced the national discourse on secularism and democracy.

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in May 1991 by a Sri Lankan Tamil linked to the LTTE during an election campaign in Tamil Nadu. This event led to a change in the Congress party's leadership, with P. V. Narasimha Rao becoming the Prime Minister.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), formed in 1980, gained prominence in the late 1980s by pursuing the politics of 'Hindutva' and cultural nationalism. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement was a key factor in its rise as a major national political force.

The 1980s saw the rise of political organizations of the Dalits, leading to the formation of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) under the leadership of Kanshi Ram. The BSP achieved significant political success, especially in Uttar Pradesh, by mobilizing Dalit voters.

The National Front, an alliance led by the Janata Dal, formed a government in 1989 with V. P. Singh as Prime Minister. It was supported from the outside by two ideologically opposite groups, the BJP and the Left Front, to keep the Congress out of power.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power by leading a coalition government from 1998 to 1999 and was re-elected in 1999. The government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee completed a full five-year term from 1999 to 2004.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) formed the government in 2004 and was re-elected in 2009. Dr. Manmohan Singh served as the Prime Minister for both terms, heading a coalition government.

The 2014 Lok Sabha elections marked a significant shift, with the BJP winning a clear majority of 282 seats on its own, the first time for any party since 1984. Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, leading the NDA government.

In this case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of maintenance for a divorced Muslim woman. The Congress government's subsequent law to nullify this judgment was criticized by the BJP as minority appeasement and became a key issue in political mobilization.

Despite political competition, a broad consensus emerged among most parties on four key issues. These were agreement on new economic policies, acceptance of OBC reservations, recognition of the role of state-level parties, and a shift towards pragmatic alliances.