The elections of 1967 marked the emergence of a notable political phenomenon - coalition politics. With no single party securing a majority, various non-Congress parties united to form joint legislative groups, referred to as "Samyukt Vidhayak Dal" in Hindi, to back non-Congress governments. As a result, these governing entities earned the designation of SVD governments. Notably, most of these coalitions comprised partners with differing ideological orientations.

What was the main reason for the formation of coalition governments after the 1967 elections?
1) To counter the rise of a single dominant party
2) To establish a uniform ideological framework
3) To ensure Congress party's dominance
4) To promote economic reforms

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

1

The main reason for the formation of coalition governments after the 1967 elections was to counter the rise of a single dominant party.

The elections of 1967 marked the emergence of a notable political phenomenon - coalition politics. With no single party securing a majority, various non-Congress parties united to form joint legislative groups, referred to as "Samyukt Vidhayak Dal" in Hindi, to back non-Congress governments. As a result, these governing entities earned the designation of SVD governments. Notably, most of these coalitions comprised partners with differing ideological orientations.

For instance, the SVD government in Bihar showcased a diverse composition, including the participation of two socialist parties - SSP and PSP - alongside the left-leaning Communist Party of India (CPI) and the right-leaning Jana Sangh. Similarly, in Punjab, a coalition known as the 'Popular United Front' came into existence, featuring the rival Akali factions - the Sant group and the Master group - alongside both communist parties (CPI and CPI(M)), the Socialist Party (SSP), the Republican Party, and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.