Alliance
Also called: Front, Political alliance · Topic: Political Parties, Party Systems and Anti-defection · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 1 "Power-sharing"; Class 10, Ch 4 "Political Parties"
Meaning
An alliance, also called a front, is a group of parties that join hands to contest elections and win power. Alliances are common in a multi-party system, where one party often cannot win a majority alone. Partners usually share seats, so they do not run against each other.
Example
In the 2004 Lok Sabha election there were three main alliances: the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left Front. In July 2023 the INDIA bloc replaced the UPA. In 2024 the BJP won 240 seats and now governs through the NDA, which won 293.
Don't confuse with
- Coalition government: this is a government run jointly by several parties. It can be formed by an alliance, but parties can also come together to form one after the election.