United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
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History
2004-14, 2021
Dec 2, 2021: The Times of India
NEW DELHI: The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), steered by Sonia Gandhi, was a mighty political formation that ruled India for a decade from 2004 to 2014 and seemed the only challenger capable of taking on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
However, seven years after having lost power to Narendra Modi, the alliance is facing questions on its relevance from some of its members.
On Wednesday, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, in response to a question, replied: "What is UPA? There is no UPA." Banerjee, who is buoyant after her party's spectacular victory in West Bengal state polls, also advocated the coming together of regional outfits to take on the BJP.
Here is a look at the rise and now the existential crisis of the UPA:
Birth to power
The first Prime Minister that the BJP gave to the country, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was a charismatic leader (((but even he did not have Modi's ruthless efficiency when it came to winning polls.)))) In 2004, upsetting many calculations, the Congress emerged as the largest party in Lok Sabha. However, the party did not get a majority.
Several parties, who were opposed to the BJP's "right wing" stance joined hands to provide a "secular" alternative, and thus was born the United Progressive Alliance or the UPA.
Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister while politically powerful Sonia Gandhi became the head of the UPA.
The UPA, which formed the government at the Centre for two terms, was a grouping of 14 parties which included Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD, M Karunanidhi-led DMK, Sharad Pawar-led NCP and others like the PMK, TRS, JMM, LJP, MDMK, AIMIM, PDP, IUML, RPI(A) .
The Congress-led alliance also had outside support of the Left parties. Besides, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party also pitched in with support when required.
Ability to survive
In UPA's first term, the Congress had only 145 seats yet it managed to keep most of the partners on its side everytime it faced a crisis.
One of the biggest challenges that the UPA faced then was when the Left parties decided to withdraw support over Manmohan Singh's nuclear power pact with the United States of America. The UPA managed to survive the storm as Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi party bailed the formation out.
In ten years of its rule, the UPA managed to survive many such crises.
Present status of the UPA
The spate of drubbings that the Congress has received at the hands of the BJP since 2014 has meant that the party's ability to steer the coalition has come under scanner. While some of the allies are sticking to the Congress, others have charted independent ways or have switched sides to the BJP. Let's have a look at the parties that once gave might to the UPA:
Rashtriya Janata Dal
RJD has been one of the Congress's staunchest allies, with Lalu Prasad strongly backing Sonia Gandhi several times. However, the RJD distanced itself from the Congress after the loss in the last Bihar assembly polls.
Many in the RJD felt that the Congress as an alliance partner proved to be a liability rather than an asset during the polls. However, the recent bypolls in the state, which the RJD contested on its own and lost, must have come as an eyeopener to the party. The loss was despite the fact that Lalu campaigned for the party in the bypolls.
The RJD is likely to stay in the UPA camp as the two parties face a common enemy in the form of BJP.
DMK
The DMK is the another major party in the UPA. The party is in power in Tamil Nadu where M K Stalin is the chief minister.
NCP
The NCP is another important UPA constituent. It has partnered with the Congress and the right-wing Shiv Sena to form a government in Maharashtra. NCP chief Sharad Pawar is known to have warm personal relationships with parties across the spectrum and this includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.
AIMIM
The Asaduddin Owaisi-led party was a member of the UPA once. However, Owaisi's bid to expand its footprint has clashed with the Congress plans. Congress leaders often refer to Owaisi as a "vote cutter" who helps the BJP during election campaigns.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
The JMM partnered with the Congress to win the assembly elections in the state, scripting one of the few success stories of the UPA in present times. The JMM-Congress government in Jharkhand is headed by Hemant Soren.
National Conference
The National Conference partnered the BJP at the Centre during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure. However, the party moved towards the Congress after Modi's rise in the BJP and on the national scene.
BSP
Mayawati's party often gave support to the UPA but now there is a huge trust deficit between it and the Congress. Both are contesting the UP elections separately. However, personal equations remain. Recently, Priyanka Gandhi had visited Mayawati, after the latter's mother passed away.
Others
There are several other parties who have a few MLAs or MPs who are also members of the UPA. These outfits are important in their areas but their impact at the national level is limited.
Common constituents
Significantly, many parties that are or have been in the BJP-led NDA, were also members of the UPA at some point of time. Mamata Banerjee's TMC, Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP, Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference and Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK are among parties that have been with both the formations at some point or the other.
The challenge
The leader of the UPA, Congress, which accused BJP of "communal" politics and drew comfort from the support of outfits it deemed "secular" is now facing a challenge from these very parties.
Erstwhile ally, the Samajwadi Party is in no mood for a tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the assembly elections.
The Congress has lost base in several states to parties like the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh, TRS in Telangana, the AAP in Delhi.
Even though these parties are opposed to the BJP, they have stayed away from the UPA and are in no hurry to rush to the Congress fold.
Like TMC, AAP is also trying to emerge across states and is already posing a challenge to the Congress in Punjab.
The upcoming state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur are crucial for the Congress. Another electoral debacle would be seen as a sign that the party does not have the heft to steer the UPA. A powerful performance, however, would further its relevance.
