Despite the noises from within, there is no immediate threat to the NDA

Alliance politics involves constant bargaining from pressure groups that use a variety of tactics for a better share in power

The NDA Government alliance is unlikely to crumble anytime soon. This author explains how simple gestures of negotiation are being made for better adjustments within the NDA.

The Bhartiya Janata Party formed an alliance of around 48 small and big political parties during the 2014 parliamentary election. This partnership, called the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), got a thumping majority in that election. Some of its constituent parties represented caste and community interests and some stood for regional aspirations.

Parties like Apana Dal, Suheldeo Bhartiya Samaj Party of Uttar Pradesh, Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party, Upendra Kushwaha-led Lok Samata Party, Hindustani Awam Morcha led by Jeetan Ram Manjhi in Bihar reflect the caste aspirations of various social groups. Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United, Telugu Desam Party and Shiv Sena are largely focused on regional issues and identity.

One thing is common to all these political set-ups is that they all negotiated their share in power either by seeking positions in the cabinet ministry or by demanding a share in development projects and proper budget allocation for their own specific areas or states.

Self-interest is always apparent at the core of these formations, alignments and realignments. Self-interest isn't considered a negative in the politics of a democratic state. It is defended on the basis of community identity and regional interest. Opportunism is further a by-product of self-interest in coalition politics. Founder of the Bahujan Samaj party and eminent Dalit leader, the late Kanshiram, would defend his party's stance of changing alliances for its emergence as an important factor in coalition politics and to protect interest of Dalit community. He had once said, "I can do anything to empower the Dalits in this country."

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