Question

The nineties also saw the emergence of powerful parties and movements that represented the Dalit and backward castes (Other Backward Classes or OBCs). Many of these parties represented powerful regional assertion as well. These parties played an important role in the United Front government that came to power in 1996. The United Front was similar to the National Front of 1989 for it included Janata Dal and several regional parties. This time the BJP did not support the government. The United Front government was supported by the Congress. This shows how unstable the political equations were. In 1989, both the Left and the BJP supported the National Front Government because they wanted to keep the Congress out of power.

In 1996, the Left continued to support the non-Congress government but this time the Congress, supported it, as both the Congress and the Left wanted to keep the BJP out of power. They did not succeed for long, as the BJP continued to consolidate its position in the elections of 1991 and 1996. It emerged as the largest party in the 1996 election and was invited to form the government. But most other parties were opposed to its policies and therefore, the BJP government could not secure a majority in the Lok Sabha. It finally came to power by leading a coalition government from May 1998 to June 1999 and was re-elected in October 1999. Atal Behari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister during both these NDA governments and his government formed in 1999 completed its full term.

Since then, there have been eleven governments at the Centre, all of which have either been coalition governments or minority governments supported by other parties, which did not join the government. In this new phase, any government could be formed only with the participation or support of many regional parties. This applied to the National Front in 1989, the United Front in 1996 and 1997, the BJP-led coalition in 1998, the NDA in 1999, the UPA in 2004 and 2009. However, this trend changed in 2014.

Who was the Prime Minister during the United Front Government from April 1997-March 1998?

• A. I. K. Gujral
• B. H.D. Deve Gowda
• C. V. P. Singh
• D. Chandra Shekhar

Hint:

Deve Gowda came first, then this leader took over in April 1997.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question.
We need the Prime Minister of India in the United Front government between April 1997 and March 1998. This needs outside knowledge, since the passage does not name him.

Step 2: Recall the history.
The United Front came to power in 1996 with H.D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister. In April 1997 he was replaced by I. K. Gujral, who stayed until March 1998.

Step 3: Check option 1.
I. K. Gujral was the Prime Minister from April 1997 to March 1998. So option 1 is correct.

Step 4: Check option 2.
H.D. Deve Gowda led the United Front from June 1996 to April 1997, before Gujral. So option 2 is wrong.

Step 5: Check option 3.
V. P. Singh headed the National Front government in 1989-90. So option 3 is wrong.

Step 6: Check option 4.
Chandra Shekhar was Prime Minister in 1990-91. So option 4 is wrong.

Final Answer:
The Prime Minister was I. K. Gujral, which is option 1.
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