Coalition v/s Single party Rule: An economic perspective

With the growing clamor for a grand alliance against BJP, Prime minister has derisively called such an attempt as "Maha Milaavat". He tries to bring home the point that a government of single party majority is good for nation in general and its economy in particular. However a look at the growth trajectory of the country represents altogether a different picture. In 70 years of Independence, country has been ruled by single party government for around 40 years and for remaining 30 years it has been under a coalition government rule.

To get a true picture lets consider the below graph.

Source: World Bank data

The above graph clearly shows that India has witnessed a decent growth rate in the last two decades that have been dominated by coalition governments. Term of UPA-1 is a phase of unparalleled growth story in India's economic history. 

The graph plotted above reflects the data from 1969 to 2017. In these 49 years, roughly speaking country has been under single party rule for 21 years and for 28 years under coalition government rule. Following table represents the average growth rate over these years.

Above data does not conclusively prove the fact that coalition is good for economy because there multiple factors at play that determine growth scenario. However it does bust the narrative that Single party rule is good for nation. At least economic data does not corroborate such hypothesis.