The limitations on coalition politics in India: The case of electoral alliances in Uttar Pradesh

An alliance between the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party in the electorally vital state of Uttar Pradesh during the 1998 Lok Sabha election s would have prevented the BJP from coming to power at the centre. This art icle uses coalition theory to explain why this alliance did not form. The a nalysis reveals that coalition formation in the state is a logical strategy given the fragmented nature of the party system. However alliances are com plicated by social cleavages, factors internal to parties and the dynamic n ature of electoral politics in the state. The article concludes with an ass essment of prospects for future alliances in Uttar Pradesh and the applicab ility of this case to coalition politics in India more generally.