Elections that shaped India | The United Front experiment (1996-98)

India's tumultuous political landscape between 1996-1999 under United Front governments reshaped the nation's political dynamics and foreign policy.

After five years of steadfast leadership under Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, India witnessed some one of its the most unstable years politically, between 1996 and 1999. The cause for this was largely the two consecutive United Front governments and the short-lived Vajpayee government.

The United Front (UF) experiment between 1996 and 1998 was a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance, touted as an alternative to the two mighty parties. Comprising of thirteen regional, socialist, Left-leaning parties, the United Front governments headed by Janata Dal’s H.D. Devegowda and later I.K. Gujral were propped up with outside support from Congress.

Previously, between 1989 and 1991, two National Front (NF) governments were cobbled together by a regional coalition, once again led by Janata Dal with outside support from the Congress. Ironically, all four Third Front governments were brought down by the Congress withdrawing support.

Here’s how the tumultuous United Front years reshaped India.

Heading into the 1996 elections, Mr. Rao faced a tough opposition from the BJP, which was riding on a popularity wave with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

With BJP naming Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee as its Prime Ministerial candidate (its first) at the party’s 1995 national conference, Mr. Rao faced a triangular contest with him and the Third Force – a 13-party alliance comprising of Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), All India Indira Congress (Tiwari), the Left Front (CPI, CPM, CPI (M-L), AIFB), Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).

Elections to 545 Lok Sabha seats were held on April 27, May 2 and May 7 while results were announced on May 10, 1996. Under the smooth functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), 34.33 crore voters of an eligible electorate of 59.25 crore voted, bringing the voter turnout to57.94%. Women came out in full force, with 15.10 crore of an eligible 28.27 crore voting.