Leadership in Coalition Politics: Sharmistha Mukherjee on Modi's Governance Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

Hindustan Times - India · 28 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Polity and constitution High relevance

Sharmistha Mukherjee highlights PM Modi's leadership as pivotal for India's stability during global geopolitical shifts, emphasizing the unique 2014 electoral mandate and the contrast with previous coalition governments.

Key points

2014 Lok Sabha Elections: The BJP's projection of Narendra Modi as PM candidate marked a departure from tradition, being the first instance where a new face was declared as the prime ministerial candidate before elections, setting a precedent in Indian electoral politics.

First-term MP as PM: Modi's entry into Parliament as a first-term MP and directly assuming the PM role is unprecedented in India's political history, underscoring the significance of regional leadership experience (Gujarat CM) in national politics.

Stable Government: Mukherjee contrasts Modi's majority government with the UPA's coalition dynamics, where alliance partners often constrained policy decisions, highlighting how single-party dominance can enable decisive governance.

Geopolitical Context: The endorsement comes amid global instability, stressing the need for strong leadership to navigate India's foreign policy and economic strategies in a multipolar world order.

Historical Comparison: While acknowledging contributions of past PMs like Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh, Mukherjee positions Modi as uniquely strong in post-Independence India, reflecting on evolving leadership paradigms.

[GS2-Polity] The anti-defection law's limitations are evident when comparing Modi's stable government with UPA's coalition challenges, raising questions about balancing stability and democratic representation in India's parliamentary system.

Opposition Role: Mukherjee underscores the constitutional role of opposition in critiquing governance while advocating for objective historical assessment of leadership impacts beyond partisan divides.

Way Forward: India should institutionalize leadership development programs for MPs, strengthen intra-party democracy to reduce reliance on individual charisma, and reform coalition governance frameworks to ensure stability without compromising federal principles.

Key terms

Anti-Defection Law

The Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, introduced in 1985, aims to prevent political defections. Its effectiveness is debated as mass defections continue to undermine electoral mandates, as seen in recent Shiv Sena and TMC splits.

Prime Ministerial Mandate

The electoral authorization of a specific individual as Prime Minister, distinct from party mandate. The 2014 election was transformative as voters explicitly endorsed Modi's leadership, not just the BJP, altering India's electoral psychology.

Geopolitical Uncertainty

The current global disorder marked by US-China rivalry, regional conflicts, and economic fragmentation. Strong leadership is crucial for India to leverage its strategic autonomy, as seen in balancing relations with Russia, US, and EU amid Ukraine war sanctions.

Coalition Government

A government formed by multiple political parties cooperating to achieve a majority in the legislature. In India, coalitions like UPA (2004-2014) often faced policy paralysis due to conflicting interests among partners, contrasting with single-party majority governments that enable decisive policymaking.