US Spy Chief Says No Party To Get Majority In 2014 India Elections

WASHINGTON – Coalitionpolitics would continue to dominateIndia’s governance as noparty is likely to get a clearmajority in the 2014 generalelection, a senior U.S. intelligenceofficial said.”Coalition politics will almostcertainly dominate Indian governance.Since the 1984 nationalelections, no party has won aclear majority in the lowerhouse of Parliament.”We judge that this trend willcontinue with the 2014 election,and the proliferation of politicalparties will further complicatepolitical consensus building,”said James Clapper, Director ofU.S. National Intelligence.In this election year in particular,coalition politics and institutionalchallenges will remain theprimary drivers of India’s economicand foreign policy decisionmaking, he said while testifyingbefore the Senate SelectCommittee on Intelligence.”Any future governmentinstalled after the 2014 electionwill probably have a positiveview of the U.S., but future legislationor policy changes thatare consistent with US interestsis not assured,” Clapper said.”In 2014, India will probablyattain a 5 per cent average annualgrowth rate, significantly lessthan the 8 per cent growth thatit achieved from 2005 to 2012and that is needed to achieve itspolicy goals,” he said.Besides, Clapper said Indiashares American objectives fora stable and democraticPakistan that can encouragetrade and economic integrationbetween South and CentralAsia.”We judge that India andPakistan will seek modestprogress in minimally controversialareas, such as trade, whileprobably deferring serious discussionon territorial disagreementsand terrorism,” he said.Clapper said India would continueto cooperate with the U.S.on the future of Afghanistanfollowing drawdown of NATOforces. India also shares U.S.concerns about a resurgentTaliban in the war-torn nation,seeing it as a long-term securitythreat and source of regionalinstability, he said.On Sino-India ties, he said thetwo sides have attempted toreduce long-standing bordertensions through confidencebuildingmeasures, such as holdingthe first military exercise infive years in November 2013and signing a Border DefenceCooperation Agreement duringPrime Minister ManmohanSingh’s visit to China inOctober 2013.